Online critics speculated that Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro might have been drunk during her latest show, but the network blamed "technical difficulties" for her attention-grabbing appearance.

The host appeared on her Saturday night show 15 minutes late. Once she arrived, she behaved in a manner that led viewers to claim she looked like she had just left a happy hour.

"Boxed wine is a hell of a drug," Daily Beast editor Molly Jong-Fast said on Twitter.

"New name for show: Happy Hour with Judge Jeanine," MLB columnist Mike Lupica replied to Jong-Fast's tweet.



New name for show: Happy Hour with Judge Jeanine. — Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) March 29, 2020



"It’s could be worse, I suppose. We could be waking up with @JudgeJeanine’s hangover," Ellen producer Andy Lassner joked.



It’s could be worse, I suppose.



We could be waking up with @JudgeJeanine’s hangover. — andy lassner (@andylassner) March 29, 2020



Others made similar observations.



Is it me or is Judge Jeanine shitfaced. pic.twitter.com/OOxwmHachC — Jerry Avenaim (@avenaim) March 29, 2020

🎶Shhhhhzhow me the way t’go home

I’m tired n’I wanna go t’bed

IIIIIIIII drank-a box a-wine about n’hour ago

An’ it got riiiii to my head🎶 https://t.co/iAo06CLbM3 — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) March 29, 2020



After the speculation, Fox News issued a statement blaming remote work for the debacle.

"Jeanine Pirro was broadcasting from her home for the first time when she encountered several technical difficulties which impacted the quality of her show, including the loss of a teleprompter," the network said Sunday. "As we have previously said, we are operating with a reduced staff working remotely to ensure the health and safety of our employees in these unprecedented times."



Just received this statement from Fox News re @JudgeJeanine’s broadcast last night. pic.twitter.com/qJu1HD3Ciq — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 29, 2020



A source close to the network also told the Washington Examiner, "There was no hair and make-up for Judge Pirro last night as we are operating with reduced hair and make-up across the board, noted last week in a company memo. Judge Pirro was absolutely not drunk and does not even drink."

