Video: Ontario Prime Minister Swallows Bee After It Entered His Mouth During a Live Press Conference

A bee just entered the mouth of Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford during a live press conference in Dundalk, Ontario, on Friday, August 12.

It immediately reached the headlines after a "serious news conference" on the province's healthcare system turned into humorous event.

The Ontario Prime Minister even joked about the incident, which could turn out differently amid the risks from the bee's sting operation.

The buzz moment immediately garnered thousands of views in social media, becoming a new meme in some platforms.

This comes after details of the bee swallowing spread like wildfire, thanks to the nature of the conference.

There were no immediate reports suggesting Ford incurred dangerous or life-threatening health complications after the incident.

Sting Operation

Bee — Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

In an uploaded YouTube video of Global News on Saturday, August 13, it can be seen that the premier was discussing about the health sector when all of a sudden, he started coughing and immediately told he just swallowed a bee to the conference audience, which includes reporters and staff.

Some of the conference members can be heard asking if Ford was alright, which he confirmed right away by saying "he's buzzing in there" and that the little bugger was in his stomach.

In addition, he also made a pun by saying the bee had a lot of real estate inside him.

The 36-second video ended when the premier said the insect just latched onto his throat but still with a sense of optimism.

Also Read: Findings Show Continuous Decrease in Bee Population Will Severely Impact Wild Crops and Plants in Just Tens of Years

A Unique Incident

In a separate coverage of the story by Global News, Colin D' Mello, its Park Bureau Chief at the Ontario Legislature, said that the audience were stunned on the sting operation, adding that the country has never seen such incident unfold involving a government official ingesting or possible digesting a bee during a live conference.

D' Mello said the outdoor gathering aimed to address the privatization of the healthcare system.

The reporter also added it made a buzz on social media, saying some Twitter users fired back by saying the ER could be closed if the Ontario Premier is sent.

Other comments on social media, including on YouTube, also showed sympathy to the bee, during an accidental incident which is relatively a commonplace.

Insect Swallowing Risks

In the past, people have often demise to accidentally or intentionally swallow live insects, whether they may be a bee or other bugs.

In some instances, these events lead to discomfort where a number of cases can reach even for days, weeks, months, or even years.

While seem strange, eating bugs also has cultural roots amongst the Homo sapiens.

According to the National Capital Poison Center (NCPC), eating insects tend to be harmless since it has been practiced before by our hunter-gatherer ancestors.

The NCPC highlights the practice has been used widely around the world, including in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, as part of our ancient humans' natural diet.