CBS Mornings Anchor Accidentally Declares Buzz Aldrin Dead on Live TV

It was a classic live TV blunder that sent CBS Mornings host Tony Dokoupil scrambling for clarification — and Buzz Aldrin fans into a panic.

During Friday’s Halloween broadcast, Dokoupil, 44, mistakenly announced that the legendary astronaut was dead while trying to fact-check Kim Kardashian’s bizarre conspiracy theory about the moon landing.

The mix-up happened during a lively on-air debate between Dokoupil, Gayle King, and Nate Burleson after they played a clip from The Kardashians, in which Kim questioned whether humans really landed on the moon in 1969.

Burleson jokingly defended Kim’s curiosity, noting, “We did it with computers the size of refrigerators — and we haven’t been back in five decades. I’m not saying she’s right, but the question’s fair!”

That’s when Dokoupil jumped in to set the record straight — and made his own mistake.

“Nate, it’s Halloween,” he said. “Buzz Aldrin’s skeletal bones are going to come out of the ground and punch you in the face.”

After a few stunned seconds, the anchor suddenly realized what he’d said.

“I want to make sure Buzz Aldrin is actually dead. I kind of lost track of it,” Dokoupil admitted live on air, turning to producers for confirmation. “Please tell me right now if he’s not, because I want to clear this up.”

Buzz Aldrin, of course, is very much alive at 95 — and still a fierce advocate for space exploration. Burleson quickly corrected him, saying, “Buzz is alive, by the way.”

Visibly relieved, Dokoupil laughed it off: “Buzz, come on the show. We love you. Punch me in the face, actually. Punch both of us! My apologies — and I think Kim Kardashian owes you one too.”

Aldrin, who famously followed Neil Armstrong onto the moon in 1969, remains an icon of the space age and a champion for future missions to Mars. His life took a personal turn earlier this week when his wife, Anca Faur, passed away at 66 — just two years after their marriage.

The veteran astronaut has yet to comment on the CBS slip-up — but knowing Buzz, he’s probably taking it in stride. After all, this is the same man who once actually punched a moon-landing denier.