Karl Stefanovic calls out Today reporter live on-air: ‘Are you there?’

Ezra Holt, a Channel Nine reporter in Perth, was left “looking like a deer stuck in headlights” after Today host Karl Stefanovic called him out live on-air.

The journalist was put on the spot on Friday morning after presenting a package about Western Australia’s new quarantine facility for international travellers.

The camera switched back to the Today studio after Ezra wrapped up his story, and sports reporter Charles Croucher began talking about soccer. However, Karl interrupted him and asked, “Just quickly, can I talk to Ezra?”

“Ezra, are you there my man? Ezra, are you there?” he continued.

A wide-eyed Ezra then returned to the screen, who was cautiously nodding and looking between the camera and the monitor.

RELATED:

• Today show's Karl Stefanovic on 'humiliating' TV moment

• Today's Ally Langdon's 'woke' Harry and Meghan comment leaves co-stars speechless

• Today's Karl Stefanovic shocks with X-rated joke about Allison Langdon

Karl repeated again, “Ezra, it’s Karl, are you there?”, while co-host Allison Langdon remarked, “He’s looking nervous”.

After a brief pause, Ezra smiled and replied, “Yes, how are you going Karl?”

“Could you get any more handsome?” Karl finally asked him, with laughter erupting from the breakfast show team.

“I can try,” Ezra quipped, which Allison applauded and lead Karl to exclaim, “Oh yeah!”.

Shortly after the incident, Ezra took to Twitter to share the footage and poke fun at himself and his shocked reaction.

“Looking like a deer stuck in headlights after Karl Stefanovic called me out,” he captioned the video.

He followed it up with a screenshot of his stunned reaction, writing, “Ever seen eyes this big?”.

A number of his Channel Nine colleagues and fellow journalists replied to the video and applauded the funny moment.

“Good onya Ezra!” reporter Tracy Vo commented, followed by journalist Siobhan Mckenna with “Absolute highlight of my day!”

“I just keep watching it over and over,” someone else wrote, while another added, “This is hilarious!”

“Karl just cracks me up,” a fifth shared.

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.