Vine clarified that no real birds were injured in the making of his April Fool’s Day prank. (Screengrab via X)
Broadcaster Jeremy Vine was forced to explain his April Fool’s drone joke posted Monday after angry social media users reported him to the authorities.
Vine, who hosts shows on BBC Radio and Channel 5, posted a clip of him cycling through Kensington Gardens in London before a bird attacks his camera. The presenter claimed that he was trying out his new drone when “a hawk or red kite” smashed the £400 equipment “to bits.”
WHAT THE HELL — using a drone for today's early cycle ride, and it got taken out by a hawk or red kite in HYDE PARK FFS. Smashed to bits, £400 gone in a second 🤬🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/9Ln5Jp67zO
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) April 1, 2024
The joke didn’t go down quite as well as planned, however, as angry users rounded to hastily report him by tagging the Metropolitan Police Service, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
You’ve just broken the law! You are not allowed to fly a drone without maintaining visual line of sight at all times also Hyde Park is within restricted airspace area R157 which requires permission from the diplomatic protection team and CAA @metpoliceuk @UK_CAA action needed
— UAS Flight Ops (@UASflightops) April 1, 2024
Is there a case here that the @RSPBEngland could prosecute? No end of damage could be caused to that bird of prey by this reckless use of a drone. All he is worried about is £400, what about the bird..??
— Electric Blue🧢🖌 (@Only9built) April 1, 2024
Vine then had to intervene to explain that he hadn’t, in fact, used a drone at all but that the footage was shot on his Insta360 camera and that, shockingly, even the bird edited into the clip was a fake – as if it wasn’t obvious.
Because I've now apparently been reported to the Met, @RSPCA_official, the @UK_CAA & @theroyalparks, I should clarify that I was NOT flying a drone and no wildlife was involved. It was just an @insta360 camera. I wasn't ready for the level of flag-related anger.#AprilFoolsDay https://t.co/V1d0hZYzrU
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) April 1, 2024
“I wasn’t ready for the level of flag-related anger,” he joked.
