A Moon Landing Gaffe for the Ages? When a CBS Anchor Accidentally Declared Buzz Aldrin — Very Much Alive — Deceased

You know, live television, it’s a funny old beast, isn't it? Full of spontaneity, and, well, sometimes, some rather astonishing slip-ups. And honestly, this past Friday, July 21, during a segment on CBS Mornings, viewers got a front-row seat to just such a moment — a gaffe, you could say, that sent social media into a bit of a tizzy.

The conversation was, quite rightly, centered on the 54th anniversary of that monumental Apollo 11 moon landing. A truly incredible feat of human endeavor, don't you think? As co-host Tony Dokoupil spoke about the historic mission, referencing its legendary crew, he made a rather significant, and indeed, startling, misstatement. He declared, with a calm sincerity that only made it more jarring, "One of the people who was on that mission, of course, Buzz Aldrin, and we say, 'Of course,' because he recently passed away."

Passed away? Hold on a minute! For anyone keeping even a casual eye on space news, or just, you know, current events, this would have sounded incredibly off. Because, in truth, the legendary astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, is very much alive and, by all accounts, still kicking at the ripe old age of 93. He's actually the last surviving member of that iconic Apollo 11 crew, a fact that makes his continued presence all the more special.

Thankfully, and quite swiftly, Dokoupil’s co-anchor, Nate Burleson, was right there to interject. A quick, clear correction, "He is still with us. Buzz Aldrin is still with us," came from Burleson, saving the segment, and, perhaps, the internet from an even greater meltdown. Dokoupil, to his credit, looked genuinely perplexed for a moment, almost as if he was processing an entirely new piece of information. "Oh, he's still alive?" he questioned, a look of surprise washing over his face. He quickly followed up with, "He's 93. I'm sorry, my apologies." An honest mistake, you could tell, but a doozy nonetheless.

The internet, of course, moves at warp speed. It wasn't long before screenshots and clips of the on-air blunder were circulating widely, becoming fodder for memes and plenty of incredulous comments. People were quick to point out that Aldrin, who famously walked on the moon alongside Neil Armstrong, had been seen just months prior, celebrating his 93rd birthday, looking quite spry, actually. And frankly, the idea of such a prominent figure passing away without major news outlets reporting it felt, well, impossible.

So, what was the takeaway from this small, but memorable, TV moment? Perhaps a reminder of the pressures of live broadcasting, or maybe just how easily misinformation, even unintentional, can spread. But for once, let’s all be glad the news of a beloved public figure’s demise turned out to be, quite happily, greatly exaggerated. Buzz Aldrin, it seems, is still here, still a legend, and certainly still with us.