Karl yesterday’s host of morning television
Channel 9 pulls plug on 14-year role after ongoing personal issues
IT was a long time coming, but Cairns’ golden child of television Karl Stefanovic has finally left the Today Show.
The former St Augustine’s student has made headlines across the country for years for his antics on Nine's Today show, as well as during his marriage breakdown and recent Mexican wedding with new wife Jasmine Yarbrough.
He was in Los Angeles just last week with his mother Jenny Stefanovic, who still lives at Cairns’ northern beaches.
Stefanovic was a co-host on Today for 14 years and was on his honeymoon in Aspen when the news was broken to him.
Stefanovic’s manager and friend Sharon Finnigan – and lawyers representing both Nine and Stefanovic – are said to have been present when Nine CEO Hugh Marks delivered the news to the 44year-old newsman over the phone.
In a statement, Nine’s director of news Darren Wick said: “Nine and Karl Stefanovic have agreed it is time for him to step off the Today Show. Karl remains on contract with the network and will continue to host This Time Next Year, which records in February.
“For over 14 years Karl has been at the centre of the Today Show bringing his unique personality and perspective to the day’s news and current affairs.
“An announcement on the new line-up and format of the Today Show will be made in the coming weeks.”
It’s a double-blow for the Stefanovic family, with younger brother Peter Stefanovic also announcing he will be leaving the network this week.
He worked at Nine for 15 years across Weekend Today, Nine News and 60 Minutes. Insiders blame Karl Stefanovic’s lavish Mexican nuptials to his 34-year-old shoe designer wife as the final nail in the coffin, with executives fed up with Karl’s inability to keep his personal life out of the public spotlight.
Sources say Nine management has been compiling a dossier of the host’s potential contract breaches.
It is also believed Nine bosses instructed Stefanovic to stop his ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn from making public tirades, particularly after her latest outburst when she suggested the network had paid off Georgie Gardner to keep quiet following the Ubergate scandal earlier in the year. At the time, the two Stefanovic brothers were caught allegedly bad mouthing Nine and their colleagues, including Gardner, while Peter’s phone was on loud speaker in an Uber.