Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: Al Roker Says He's Sharting "All The Way To The Bank"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 16, 2013
Modified Jan 16, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 16, 2013
Modified Jan 16, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
While nobody who uses the internet could possibly forget the significance of January 6th, 2013—aka the day Al Roker admitted on television to "sharting" in the White House after he underwent gastric bypass surgery—you might imagine that Roker is a little embarrassed about the whole incident. But as Roker told MediaBistro, he's proud that he spoke out about his gastrointestinal problems—if for no other reason than it has made him more money: "At the end of the day, I have a NY Times best seller...so hey, you know what, I'm laughing all the way to the bank."
That is only one of the three best parts of this brief interview. The other two: the fact that Roker pretends to not know what question the reporter is leading into when she says, "and speaking of indigestion..." And then there's his unique take on the interweb, and how things go viral due to a website and such: “It wasn’t until it was picked up by a website…the story had been out there for three days, no big deal. But when you put it on a website, then all of a sudden, 'Oh whoa'...It's where we are today.” Indeed, it is where we are today.
Lest you want to revisit it, here's the original interview:
In case you were wondering more about the medical reasons behind Roker's accident, Dr. Bipan Chand—director of Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care—gave UPI some insights into the phenomenon known as "dumping." Or, for the more juvenile amongst us, you can just watch a cartoon recreation of Roker's incident.
Tagged
al roker
dignity
intestinal distress
money
sharting
today
White House
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
What NYers can expect as open enrollment for health insurance begins
Some consumers will face higher prices partly brought on by federal spending cuts.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 26, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
Why New Yorkers should care about bats beyond spooky season
As Bat Week begins, state wildlife officials urge New Yorkers to protect bats, which play an important role in the environment.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Why New Yorkers should care about bats beyond spooky season
As Bat Week begins, state wildlife officials urge New Yorkers to protect bats, which play an important role in the environment.
By
Catalina Gonella
Serbians forced to wait hours to vote at NYC consulate as Balkan nation holds election
By
Jill Webb
and
Michael Sol Warren
Retired NYPD detective charged in George Washington Bridge killing out on $1M bail
By
Michael Sol Warren
Suicides decline in NYC, but inequities persist across groups
By
Jill Webb
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .