Salty Sue Simmons, who shocked Channel 4 viewers with a four-letter tirade, is famous for her liquid dinners between broadcasts, potty mouth and zany behavior, former co-workers told The Post yesterday.
Simmons delivered a jaw-dropping f-bomb Monday night as she read a teaser for her 11 p.m. newscast, prompting an on-air apology from the veteran anchor a half-hour later.
The incident didn’t stun some former colleagues.
PHOTOS: Sue Simmons’ On-Air Antics
“Sue Simmons likes the sauce and she can be cranky about it,” a former WNBC employee told The Post. “She was sometimes a little tipsy [on the air] to the point where colleagues would take notice.”
Simmons anchors Channel 4’s 5 p.m. newscast, and then has time to pass until 11 p.m.
Those hours are regularly spent at Midtown watering holes like Gallagher’s steakhouse and Jean Georges, witnesses said.
“I wouldn’t say she gets sloshed – sloshed, that wouldn’t be the right word,” a Gallagher’s employee said, gesturing to the back booths where Simmons typically takes her between-show breaks.
“I would say she gets happy. She gets very happy.”
An employee at Jean Georges at Columbus Circle said Simmons isn’t shy about drinking with her meals – and then heading back to work.
“She’s been here and she’s had drinks with her dinner,” a Jean Georges employee said. “She’s had a cocktail or two, yes, between shows, with dinner.”
The sometimes tipsy news anchor became an overnight Web-video sensation, thanks to a tease she read for Monday’s news.
Simmons told viewers to watch at 11 for a story about rising food costs.
The screen had been rolling stock footage of groceries, before turning to a cruise boat. Simmons flipped out and shouted: “What the f- – – are you doing?”
The 28-year WNBC vet is famous for her goofball, on-air behavior.
She’s been known to make funny faces, feign sleep, double over in laughter and poke fun at strait-laced co-anchor Chuck Scarborough.
Simmons’ publicist declined to comment on her behalf and Simmons did not return e-mails. A WNBC spokeswoman declined to comment, and said she wouldn’t discuss company policies about alcohol.
Another former WNBC employee said Simmons – famous for her “mischievous” studio behavior – might have believed she was off air and was joking with Scarborough.
“My impression was that she was directing it at Chuck, thinking it was his gaffe for not reading,” the ex-employee said.
Several former Channel 4 employees, who praised Simmons’ offbeat personality, said the anchor is famous for sailor-like swearing.
Simmons’ meltdown was likened to former Channel 2 reporter Arthur Chi’en, who was dumped in 2005 after dropping an f-bomb on live TV.
“I feel for her, as someone who has gone down that path,” said Chi’en, who hopes Simmons isn’t axed.
Additional reporting
by Braden Keil