Australia’s Next Top Model host names wrong winner on national TV

[HMG Celebrity News] – If you’re a fan of ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ we have a story you’re going to love. After weeks of intense competition the Australian version of ANTM chose this season’s winner. Then changed their minds.

The finale of the highly popular Australian variant was broadcast live from Luna Park in the heart of Sydney, watched by a live crowd of 2,000 people. After hours of excitement and hype the host, 38-year old former model Sarah Murdoch [daughter-in-law of Fox News boss, Rupert] finally named 19-year-old Kelsey Martinovich the winner.

At this point, Kelsey understandably began leaping around in delight. She’d just won $20,000 in cash, a free car, an eight-page spread in Harpers Bazaar, a $25,000 Levis ad campaign and a free trip to New York.

Then Murdoch confessed her mistake …and said 18-year-old Amanda Ware was the winner instead.

“Oh my God, I don’t know what to say right now,” she gushed. “I’m feeling a bit sick about this. This is a complete accident, I’m so sorry. It’s Amanda… it was read to me wrong.  I’m so sorry, this is insane.”

Resisting the urge to tear Sarah’s underfed frame into irreparable lumps, Kelsey hugged the new winner and the trio dissolved into tears;

“You won it’s fine…it’s OK, it’s an honest mistake,” she told Ware.

The Telegraph says Murdoch now insists the error occurred because the wrong name was fed to her ear-piece.

But Kelsey did not go home empty-handed — In an effort to correct this head-pounding blunder the show’s network — Fox – has announced she will now get a prize of $25,000 and the trip to New York.

As you might guess, this has received widespread coverage, leading some members of the Australian press to call it everything from ‘an epic fail.’ to a ham-fisted publicity stunt.

I’d say it’s unlikely anyone would make a relative of the man who owns their job and their whole station look like a half-wit on national TV, but what’s your review?…