Parents of children who crashed BBC interview say viral video is ‘terribly cute’

Robert Kelly and wife Kim Jung-A respond to viral video of their two children interrupting Kelly's live BBC interview Friday. (Wall Street Journal)

WASHINGTON — A college professor and his wife said they thought the viral video of their two children hilariously interrupting his live BBC interview Friday was “terribly cute.”

“It was a mixture of surprise, embarrassment, amusement and love and affection,” said Robert Kelly,  a professor and expert on East Asian affairs, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal Tuesday.

Kelly was in the middle of the Skype interview Friday night discussing the impeachment of South Korea’s president when his two children stole the show.

Kelly’s 4-year-old daughter, Marion, first entered the room, dancing. Her 8-month-old brother, James, followed behind in his baby walker. Soon after, Kelly’s wife, Kim Jung-A, stormed into the room, grabbed the children and shut the door.

Despite the comical interruption, Kelly was able to finish the interview.

The social media response has been overwhelming, Kelly said.  As of Tuesday, the video has been viewed more than 84 million times on the BBC Facebook page.

Kelly and his family plan to hold a press conference Wednesday at Pusan National University in South Korea, where Kelly teaches, to answer questions about the video.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up