Sawyer lights up Twitterverse

11/8/2012

Diane Sawyer's Election Night performance left some viewers asking if she had begun celebrating Tuesday's election a bit early.

Co-anchoring ABC News' coverage, the veteran journalist struck a different manner from her practiced, straight-news-delivering style. Sawyer spoke more slowly than usual while seeming to prop herself on outstretched arms at the anchor desk she shared with George Stephanopoulos.

"OK," she said at one point around 10 p.m., "I wanna -- can we have our music, because this is another big one here? Minnesota, we're ready to project Minnesota, rrright now. ... Well, tonight we know that President Barack has won Minnesota," she rambled on, stumbling over the President's name.

Maybe Sawyer was just weary. In any case, the Twitterverse took quick notice.

Her name was soon trending with unflattering posts, while a new Twitter handle, Drunk Diane Sawyer, collected hundreds of followers. An ABC spokesman did not comment.

"A bit tipsy," "hammered," or "on pain killers, muscle relaxers, benzos or some combination" were among the jeering explanations. Another likened it to an episode of HBO's drama The Newsroom, where Will McAvoy, the fictitious anchorman, had eaten a couple of pot brownies before unexpectedly being summoned to his anchor desk.

"Bad night for Romney," one tweeter summed up. "Worse night for Diane Sawyer?"

'Nobodies Business'

R&B star Rihanna unveiled a duet entitled "Nobodies Business" with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown on Tuesday, three years after Brown was charged with assaulting her. The song was part of an official track list that Rihanna, 24, tweeted to her followers for her upcoming album "Unapologetic," and comes after weeks of speculation in the media that the couple have rekindled their romance.

Brown, 23, is currently halfway through his five-year probation after pleading guilty to assaulting Rihanna on the eve of the Grammy awards in 2009. He was ordered to complete community service and a domestic violence program.

Storm aid

Lady Gaga is donating $1 million to the Red Cross to aid those affected by Superstorm Sandy.

The New York-born singer posted on her blog Wednesday that she is pledging the money on behalf of her parents and sister. She also said she "would not be the woman or artist that I am today" if it weren't for places like the Lower Eastside, Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn."

She writes: "Thank you for helping me build my spirit. I will now help you rebuild yours."