Kathie Lee Gifford Asks Martin Short About Dead Wife; Apologizes Later [Video]
Kathie Lee Gifford has put her foot in it as she conducted one of the most cringe-worthy interviews seen on TV. The Today Show host was interviewing Martin Short, and started questioning him about his wife - all the time not realizing that she had passed away two years ago.
The interview, which was broadcast live Wednesday morning, saw Gifford compliment Short on "one of the greatest marriages of anybody in show business". She then asked him what his secret was in the couple keeping their love alive.
Comic actor, Short, was in fact only on the show to speak about his new film Madagascar 3. So he was taken aback with the increasingly inappropriate questions, although he graciously didn't openly embarrass Gifford live on air - well she did that job herself!
During the interview Gifford asked Short, "You and Nancy have one of the greatest marriages of anybody in show business. How many years now for you guys?"
"We... have... married ... 36 years," Short answered - stumbling to find an appropriate answer to the question.
Gifford did not end there. She then said, "But you are still like, in love?"
Short answered more confidently: "Madly in love, madly in love."
Again, Gifford pushed her foot further into her mouth by asking: "Why?"
By this stage Short had more prepared himself, and joked, "Cute, I'm cute."
Shortly after the show went to a commercial break, and when they came back on air Gifford issued a clearly embarrassing apology: "My apologies to [Martin] and his family for not realizing."
She then explained how Short had filled her in during the commercial break.
Later on her Twitter she tweeted, "I send my sincerest apologies to @MartinShort and his family. He handled situation w/enormous grace and kindness and I'm so grateful."
