A News Anchor Fell Asleep on Live TV. Then She Shared a Message Every Tired Mom Will Understand
"Continue to show up to work, give your best and then also come home and give your best to your children as well."
FOX13 Memphis anchor Dominique Dillon briefly dozed off during a news broadcast, and the clip quickly spread online, with viewers rallying behind the exhausted new mom. Here is what she has said about the moment and the message she has for other tired parents.
Who is Dominique Dillon and why did the FOX13 Memphis mom fall asleep on air?
Dillon is a morning anchor at FOX13 Memphis who nodded off during a live segment on July 31, a moment captured in a video posted to Instagram that went viral. In the clip, Dillon appears on the split screen with her arms resting on either side of her neck and her eyes closed while a field reporter continues the segment.
Dillon, a mom of 2-year-old Dakota and 8-month-old Delilah, said on Today that her husband was working a double shift at BNSF Railway the night before while she handled bedtime alone. Her 8-month-old was teething and would not settle, and Dillon did not get her down until roughly 10:30 or 11 p.m. She usually wakes at 1:30 a.m. to prepare for an anchor shift that starts between 4:30 and 5 a.m., leaving only a couple of hours of rest before she goes on air.
How did Dominique Dillon respond to the viral sleep moment?
Dillon told Today she was mortified once she realized what had happened. “I opened my eyes, and it was cutting to the next shot and I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I can’t believe this just happened to me,’” she said. She added that she was pinching herself under the desk hoping the moment was just a bad dream.
Her FOX13 colleague Ernie Freeman poked fun in a Facebook post, sharing a photo of Dillon pretending to sleep. Dillon reposted it and wrote, “Couldn’t even give me a nudge. 😫 Brittani Dubose FOX13 had my back though!😊.” The next day she shared a photo of herself at the anchor desk paired with an Arnold Schwarzenegger quote about choosing to wake up and chase your dreams.
What message did Dominique Dillon share with tired parents about work and kids?
Dillon told Today the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with fellow parents reaching out to say they relate. “It’s not always a nice place, and what I love so much about this situation is that it shows the good side of humanity and that people understand what I’m going through as a mother,” she said. She noted that many parents work hard, show up giving 100% and then go home to what feels like another full-time job with their kids.
Her direct message to working parents running on little sleep was simple. “I just want parents to know that you’re doing a great job, and keep it up,” Dillon said. “And to the mothers out there, those long nights, they’re worth it. Continue to show up to work, give your best and then also come home and give your best to your children as well because all they want is for their parents to show up and be there for them.”
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