Sky presenter tells teenage Tetris champ to 'get some fresh air'

Sky News' Jayne Secker told a teenager who made headlines with an incredible Tetris achievement this week to: "Go outside, get some fresh air."

Oklahoma native Willis Gibson had shocked the video-gaming world by becoming the first person to ever defeat the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of the 80s puzzle, but while concluding her live report, Secker urged the 13-year-old to "get some fresh air".

During the segment, Gibson was seen reaching the 'kill screen' of Tetris, where the game crashes and the player can't go any further. Turning to the camera, Secker commented: "As a mother, I would just say step away from the screen. Go outside, get some fresh air. Beating Tetris is not a life goal."

Her remarks were branded "old-fashioned" in the aftermath of the Sky News broadcast, with Twitch user Nikoheart telling BBC Newsbeat that the main issue here was a lack of education on the presenter's part.

"I know, sometimes they're just looking at a prompt, and they're reading what it says. And then they've got to try to formulate their own opinion in that moment," he said.

"Sometimes it can come off as crass, or outdated. Each game always has a community that strives towards achieving greatness. A person doing a challenge of this sort has dedicated not just time, but mental and physical energy. It's basically rocked the whole world of gaming and for somebody of such a young age to be able to achieve what nobody has been able to do? It's an incredible feat."

Also weighing in was the co-CEO of Ukie (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment), Dan Wood, who argued "it's high time" bygone perceptions of video games be thrown out with the trash.

"Our thriving games industry is not only an economic powerhouse, but also a key cultural export for the UK," he pointed out.

"Not only can video games be a force for good, from helping people to relax to building communities, they are even helping people to develop skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking."

Yahoo has reached out to Sky News for further comment.

Read more

• What to watch on Sky and NOW in January 2024 from True Detective: Night Country to Fast X

Watch: 13-year-old US gamer becomes first to beat 'unbeatable' Tetris — by breaking it