KARL’S $20M SCANDAL
LEAKED EMAILS, TEMPER TANTRUMS AND ALL THE SHOCKING SECRETS BEHIND TV’S BIGGEST BUST UP!
Despite plummeting ratings and his headline-grabbing personal life, embattled Today host Karl Stefanovic will be keeping his job on breakfast television.
The unexpected decision was announced last week at Channel Nine’s annual Upfront event, sending shockwaves through the industry. However, insiders reveal that Karl’s bosses have been advised that giving the 44-year-old the boot is not in their best interests.
Having worked on Today for more than 13 years, Karl has barely taken any holidays until recent times or any sick leave. Now, the network has taken heed of a serious legal loophole, which could cost them millions.
“There is every chance Karl has a solid case against them,” says our industry insider.
“He has a profile because of the job and while no-one realised how harsh the public backlash would be around his bitter divorce, the executives have been warned that the long hours and sometimes weeks on the road for filming could have contributed to the breakdown in his relationship with Cassandra and it could end up costing them $20 million.”
Standing by the star and hoping to avoid a costly court battle, Nine has instead decided to ramp up the “Karl’s Comeback” publicity campaign in the hope of winning back viewers.
“Karl is also going to front This Time Next Year again in 2019, and it is hoped that the feelgood show, which is often a tearjerker, will start to change people’s perceptions of him,” says the source.
“There are lots of other new projects and segments on the Today show planned, too.”
But while Karl is undoubtedly relieved that his job is safe for the time being, his second chance has come at a cost.
New Idea can reveal Karl’s friendship with great mate and colleague Ben Fordham, who was widely tipped to be his replacement after a clear ratings hike whenever he was on air, has since turned bitter, with the pair barely speaking in months.
“It’s no secret Karl has had a lot of time off for holidays with (new fiancee) Jasmine over the past year and to begin with, he was always happy to have his
“THEY KNEW AT THAT STAGE THEY HAD TO DO WHAT KARL WANTED”
good friend keep his seat warm,” says the insider. “But every time Ben took the reins someone emailed the papers to leak the ratings spike. It was a smear campaign and he had enough.”
Flying into a jealous rage Karl demanded the bosses choose sides and stop using the new fan favourite immediately.
“They knew at that stage they had to do what Karl wanted,” the insider adds.
“Keeping Ben wasn’t helping rebuild Karl’s reputation. To the audience he was the whole package – married with small children and a devoted family man – whereas Karl was posting photos partying with friends on luxury yachts in Europe. Taking Ben off screen while they worked out a plan, the bosses are even looking towards Grant Denyer for inspiration.
“There was a point everyone thought Grant’s career was over and look at him now,” our source explains. “How he managed to turn his life around is certainly something they have drawn upon. So, Karl will take a long break over summer and will come back a married man. Then they are going to pull out all the stops in promoting him.”