Singer Harry Belafonte ‘falls asleep’ during live TV interview

A video of Harry Belafonte

seemingly falling asleep during a live TV interview with US show ‘Eyewitness News’ has gone viral across the web.

The two minute clip shows the singer, most famed for his track 'Banana Boat', appearing on the show to promote his new book of memoirs.

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However, when the news anchor at KBAK video linked to him in New York, he appeared to be fast asleep and was unresponsive to the host’s desperate attempts to wake him.

“Harry, wake up. Harry? Wake, wake up!' shouted local news anchor Leyla Santiago, whilst struggling not to giggle. “This is your wake-up call Harry... He's meditating; he's having a little nap”.

Belafonte's agent has strongly denied that he was sleeping and maintains that he was meditating as he waited for the interview to begin.

“After weeks of literally hundreds of interviews promoting his HBO documentary, memoir and CD, Mr Belafonte had an early morning satellite TV tour this past Friday,” said spokesman Ken Sunshine.

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“True to form, there was a technical glitch in the feed to a local station in Bakersfield, California. His earpiece wasn't working, so he decided to take the time to meditate before the rest of his Day-O.”

In a rather more catty remark, he added: “Mr Belafonte is 84 years young, but sharper and more awake than most who have been interviewing him”.

Methinks he doth protest too much. Take a look and decide for yourself: