Mike Tirico suffered severe allergic reaction before leaving the Kentucky Derby

Miami Herald

06-05-2025

National Mike Tirico suffered severe allergic reaction before leaving the Kentucky Derby
Mike Tirico said the attention he received at the Kentucky Derby left him feeling embarassed.
Screengrab from Mike Tirico's Instagram page
Fans who had tuned into NBC Sports' coverage of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3, grew concerned for host Mike Tirico when he suddenly left the broadcast.
NBC Sports correspondent Ahmed Fareed took over for Tirico, alongside Carmelo Anthony, sharing only that Tirico started to feel under the weather.
Now, Tirico is sharing exactly what happened with the 'Today' show, saying he was embarrassed by the attention the situation had caused.
Tirico said he has lived with a severe peanut allergy for most of his life.
He suffered a severe allergic reaction at the derby after unknowingly eating something that 'activated' his allergy.
'I left my EPIPen in Craig's dressing room when I was there a couple of weeks ago,' Tirico, referring to host Craig Melvin, said. 'I've had a nut allergy my whole life. And I'm usually very, very careful.'
'Whatever I ended up eating during the day, usually you do that snack grazing that a lot of us in TV do, so you're not eating a big meal before you go on the air,' Tirico, who had recently co-hosted the 'Today' show, explained. 'I ate something that had a nut in it, and I have a nut allergy, causing your throat and your nose and all that stuff to kind of clog up and swell. It affects your breathing a little bit.'
As a result, Tirico 'wasn't feeling well, couldn't go on with the show, took an EpiPen shot, got treated by EMTs, felt better as about 8, 9 o'clock came on, but it takes a while for it to get out of your system. And thank goodness Ahmed Fareed, who's great, was there and filled in more than able-y.'
Tirico then shared a message to others who suffer from severe food allergies, which includes his son.
'Ask, inquire, be curious and be courteous.'
SV Sara Vallone
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Sara Vallone is editor of Mamas Uncut, the online place for moms. She writes about the latest in motherhood, parenting and entertainment – all with a mom-focused twist.