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BBC Dad tells: What really happened when my kids barged in live on TV

He sets the record straight.
BBC News

The dad whose serious political interview with the BBC was interrupted by his two children storming into his home office has broken his silence about the fun – but also a little embarrassing – viral video.

Korea expert Professor Robert Kelly – whose two little ones had to be quickly removed from view by his clearly panicked wife Kim Jung-A – has told the Wall Street Journal what it’s been like to be caught up in the most talked about story of the week.

‘As soon as she opened the door I saw her image on my screen. She was in a hippity-hoppity mood that day because of the school party,’ Professor Kelly told the paper of the moment his little girl Marion nonchalantly barged in, dancing away.

When his nine-month-old son James followed his sister through the door, Professor Kelly ‘knew it was over’. 

While some have criticised the academic for guiding his daughter away from the screen without looking at her, he says he is handling the drama well – with his reactions evolving from ‘surprise and embarrassment’ to ‘amusement’ and ‘love and affection’.

‘It was terribly cute. I saw the video like everybody else and it’s really funny.’

Kim Jung-A adds: ‘It happens all the time but not like this. This was the first time it happened during an interview.’ 

With various debates raging online about his family, the professor admits they ‘were pretty uncomfortable with it,’ with Kim Jung-A adding, ‘People should just enjoy it, not argue over these things. I hope they stop arguing.’  

The Professor also debunked theories he didn’t stand up because he was either not wearing pants, or had on trackie bottoms

This article first published on New Idea.

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