WWL-TV anchors Thanh Truong and Karen Swensen couldn't help but laugh when asking WWL-TV reporter Caresse Jackman what, exactly, happened between her and CNN's Don Lemon on New Year's Eve.
"I had no idea whatsoever," Jackman said, until a colleague who had been watching texted her the news.
Imagine this: you are hanging out with your friends, enjoying a drink on New Year's Eve and you see your college girlfriend in the crowd. Awkward.
Now imagine you start waving to your ex-girlfriend while broadcasting to millions of television viewers across the country. There's one problem: that woman you think is your ex-girlfriend, is actually a local TV reporter.
That's what happened to CNN's Don Lemon during the network's annual New Year's Eve coverage from the Spotted Cat in New Orleans.
And, of course, it was all captured on camera.
"I think I see a former college girlfriend in the crowd," Lemon said before he started waving to a 'Michelle' and the camera pans over to the woman. "Oh my god, mom, if you are watching at home, do you remember Michelle?"
"Are you serious? And she's just randomly in the crowd at the Spotted Cat?" Lemon's co-anchor Brooke Baldwin said.
Sorry Don, that's not Michelle. That's WWL-TV reporter Caresse Jackman, sporting a red jacket to support her Georgia Bulldogs who are in town for the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
"My sister waved at him not realizing he called her the wrong name. We all died!" Caresse's sister Tiffany Jackman said.
Michelle (Caresse) did happen to snag a selfie with the CNN anchors, but it doesn't end there.
Two days later, THE Michelle reached out:
What a way to kick off the year.