A viral BBC interview is resonating with parents around the world due to stay-at-home orders issued and self-guaranteeing amid the coronavirus outbreak.
BBC’s Scott Bryan took to Twitter on Thursday to share a clip of an interview featuring Political Science professor Robert Kelly, his wife, and their two children.
During the quick segment, the couple was asked how they are coping with the stay home measures in South Korea. Robert Kelly and his wife noted the challenges amid the coronavirus while he and his wife both worked to manage the kids.
At the end of the segment, Robert Kelly — who has worked from home for years — apologized for his energetic children as his wife covered their daughter’s mouth. However, the interviewer easily overlooked the children and reminded Kelly how they became one of BBC’s favorite families.
Check out the segment below:
omg our favourite family have returned to bbc world news pic.twitter.com/lP7vIqD37V
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) March 26, 2020
The latest segment has led to the recirculation of Robert Kelly’s first viral video on BBC in 2017.
At the time, his children were a bit smaller. The candid interview clip — which led to Robert Kelly being dubbed “BBC Dad” — captures Robert Kelly attempting to move his daughter out of the camera while continuing to talk.
Then, his infant son could be seen barreling through the door in his walker with his wife running to catch him — all while Robert Kelly does his best to conduct the interview. With a stifled a smile, Robert Kelly offered multiple apologies despite chaos erupting in the background.
Check out Kelly’s original video:
Months later, Robert Kelly was asked again about the memorable interview. He published an essay in an Australian think tank sharing his reaction to Internet fame. He recounted the day of the BBC interview. He also confirmed that nothing about it was staged.
“People often ask me and my wife what it has been like to suddenly become virally famous,” he wrote. “It has mostly been fun, and sometimes weird.”
Robert Kelly’s interview recirculating on social media follows a string of reports detailing business closures and stay-at-home orders in the U.S. Many states have also opted to close all public K-12 schools which has created multiple challenges for parents.
With states enforcing business closures and stay-at-home orders, many parents know exactly how Robert Kelly and his wife feel. The challenge of juggling work, parenting, and their kids’ academics is something most parents can relate to.
This is what happens when I sit down at my desk now to try to work. It is basically impossible for me to work now. Be kind to your employees with kids. After two weeks penned up in the house, those kids are gonna be climbing the walls. pic.twitter.com/KXquOrM7Lt
— Robert E Kelly (@Robert_E_Kelly) March 16, 2020
Instead of attending meetings and conferences, in person, many companies have opted to conduct virtual meetings with the use of Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, and project resources to stay on task. However, execution can be a bit challenging when there is kid chaos looming over.
