The Legend of the Grape Lady
Melissa Sander – Grape Lady Falls And Makes Funny Noises (What Ever Happened To Her, Anyway?)
Written by Bill G on March 10th, 2007 in Odd Video.
Tags: funny video, Odd News, trainwrecks, TV
One of the most famous (infamous) internet viral videos ever. Melissa Sander, aka “The Grape Lady”, takes a very nasty fall on live TV, when she tried to cheat at a grape stomping contest at a local vineyard. Let’s watch.
There’s a legend ’round here. A legend ’bout a lady. A grape lady.
They say she was a reporter in the late 90s, just doin’ a story like all reportin’ types are wont to do. A story ’bout a grape stomping competition. They say she started stompin’ on some ol’ grapes down by the winery – the Chateau Elan, ya’see. Then she got ta’ cheatin’ on that grape stompin’, tryin’ to beat out the other lady that be stompin’ there with her. Turns out the goddess of the vineyard don’t like cheaters. An’ she got to punishin’ the grape lady – a harsh punishment, a painful punishment. She caused the grape lady to fall – right off that platform, right to the ground! They say you could hear her screams miles away! Screams of agony! They say the camera kept on filmin’, and people all over the country could turn on their TV sets and see first hand the wrath of the goddess of the vineyards.
Soon after, the grape lady disappeared. Some folk’ say she never existed. But I knows better. Yes sir, I knows. She’s out there. Waitin’ to get her turn again – to win that grape stompin’ contest. That’s why they say every grape stompin’ contest since has been haunted by the grape lady. If you listen, you can hear her ghostly scream – “Oww! Ohh! Oww! I can’t breathe! Aowww! Aowww!”
Determined to track down the grape lady, we at Odd Culture started our investigation at the Chateau Elan Winery and Resort. This is where the incident began.
The grape lady’s name was Melissa Sander, and she worked for MyFox Atlanta, which is Channel 5, in Atlanta, GA. Soon after the “incident” (AKA Bad Day @ Good Day Atlanta), Melissa Sander ran away to WTEN Albany, working as a weekend meteorologist, where according to one person, acted like she owned the world. Of course, everyone knew the real story – that she was just “owned” by a bunch of grapes.
Melissa Sander Albany Profile (now defunct)
Sometime in 2004 she jumped ship again, this time setting up shop at Fox 29 Philadelphia. At some point after that, it seems she jumped over to UPN 57, which is now known as CW Philly. Apparently, she was fired in 2006.
This is where the trail runs cold. She seems to have disappeared. Has she finally escaped? Settled down on an island far away where nobody has internet access? Did she really ascend into grape heaven?
Anybody with any information leading to Melissa Sanders will get a batch of chambourcin grapes from us. Grape Lady, we can still hear your screams…
Update – April 2010
Not much word on Melissa in the few years since this post. Some more info (just a little):
- After CW Philly, she was at NBC 17 in Raleigh Durham, where she won a 2006 Couldn’t Do It Without You Award.
- In 2008, her cameraman – Gus Valdes – was interviewed. He said that Sander wasn’t seriously hurt. She ended up with some bruised ribs and “a bruised ego” but nothing worse. She was back on the air soon after.
- She may be – and this is just a guess – still living in the Raleigh/Durham area. A cache of WNCN (aka NBC17) current personalities lists her as a “Meteorologist, Fill-in” but recent entries do not feature her name. We assume she is no longer employed at NBC17 but the date of her leaving is unknown. Any info on Melissa’s whereabouts is welcomed.
You people are lame. You really think “karma” is gonna get someone for laughing at this shit? Wheres the “karma” for the people in our government who attack small countries, wiping out millions for profit? Huhhhh? Where is the karma huh? Karma doesnt exist. And if your even about to say I deserve to have a punctured lung….. I already have. Spent 2 weeks in the hospital, with 3 fucking chest tubes. So I get free reign to laugh. Haaa haaa haa, fuck you.
I love you grape lady!
Great reply Chao5INcarnate. The fact that George W Bush and Dick Cheney are still with us proves karma doesn’t exist. And Henry Kissinger for that matter…
I broke my ribs when I fell ice skating, knocked the wind out of myself and it hurt like hell. But once the initial burst of pain had gone and I regained my breath, I laughed that the first person to me was a five-year-old kid who skated way better than I ever will. He said “are you alright Mister?” and all I could do was make daft grunting and puffing sounds!
I also searched to make sure She was OK. I didn’t find it funny. I said OMG i know she’s hurt. I had to look and see how she was and this was the only thing I could find. I’m sure it was painful and I’m glad you’re OK now.
LMAO. I can’t believe this thread is 2 1/2 years long!! I love Melissa Sander. She completes me. (and yes, i would laugh if it was me).
Grape Lady FTW!
This is “wild west internet meme” stuff here.
This was before all your Chocolate Rains and your fat keyboard cats and your “walking on sunshine” crackhead girls, and whatnot.
Funny stuff, glad the broad’s alright…and the longevity of this thread shows that she has accomplished more through failure than she could have ever hoped to through victory.
i came across this video and realised that my buddy michael vick(not the controversial quarterback) interned at good day atlanta. so i asked him about it and he said that it was talked about often and that they have a mock internal awards ceremony where they had an award that was introduced in 2008 called the grape lady biggest field fail. he also said that she wasn’t badly hurt but the reason no one seemed to show any concern was because she was a joker and a drama queen who often talked about playing an onscreen prank and they thought she was faking also apparently she tried to sue good day atlanta for pressuring her into stomping the grapes on a platform but the case was thrown out after it was found to be her idea. i know that you will assume that i am lying but i know that this may not be the truth because this is only what my friend was told by colleagues that may have held a grudge against melissa.
oh come on! this was HILARIOUS! so damn funny that Family Guy did a spoof of it!
i dont give a F* about the people talking about karma blah blah or she broke this or that because she didnt.
so those coming to her defense shut the F up because no one cares and this video will continue to make people pee with laughter or spit out their beverage if taken by surprise.
again,shut the fuck up.no i mean it.SHUT UP! lol.
i wont come back to visit this site so if you cry babies wanna let loose by all means go ahead.
oh and did i mention to shut the fuck up? HA!
ow ow owwww owowowowow!!! i cant breathe i cant breathe!!! stop stop!!! ow owowowowooooooowwwww!!!!
[...] the way, she apparently caught her breath and has continued her career in the news [...]
I agree with Bond! A friend of mine had shown this to me today and I was litterally crying. from laughter. I mean come on! This is classic! Hey, we’ve all had the wind knocked out of us at one point in our life. I sounded like a retard when it happened to me but guess what, I can look back on it and laugh now. This ladys career was going no where until she fell and made these sounds. These sounds she made are what made her famous! Suck it up, get over it and the sell the rights to Warner Bros. for the movie. “What happened to the falling grape lady”!!!???