Karl’s marital woes hit Today
KARL Stefanovic was once Nine’s golden boy — a typical knockabout Aussie bloke, relatable family man and respected TV news reporter.
That image changed dramatically in 2016 when Stefanovic ended his 21year marriage to Cassandra Thorburn — the mother of his three children.
Stefanovic’s over-the-top, showy wedding to shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, 34, in Cabo San Lucas this month did nothing to repair his reputation, and he has now lost his plum role as co-host of Today.
“Nine and Karl Stefanovic have agreed it is time for him to step off the Today Show. Karl remains on contract with the network,” Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Darren Wick, said in a statement yesterday.
As Nine announced his dramatic departure, Stefanovic, who is believed to still be on his honeymoon with Yarbrough, said he had been through a “tough time”.
“For the last 14 years I’ve co-hosted the best show on television,” Stefanovic said in a statement.
“I can’t thank Nine enough for the opportunity. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be good enough to host this grand show for so long. Thanks to our viewers mostly, you are what matters most. It’s been a tough time. Thanks for hanging in there.”
So where did it all go wrong for Stefanovic? After meeting Yarbrough, there were noticeable changes to Stefanovic’s dress sense, social circle and, most disastrously for Today’s ratings, his public image.
Viewers turned off in droves, as Stefanovic’s brand became tainted by the appearance of a midlife crisis.
His style went from daggy jeans, knits and TV wardrobe shirts and trousers, to sleek Tom Ford suits (as worn to the Logies this year).
His social circle changed to include a much younger crowd — Australian model Jordan Barrett and British socialite Louise Roe.
Suddenly, Stefanovic was sitting front row with Yarbrough, who is the owner of high-end shoe brand Mara & Mine, at David Jones’ fashion shows, flaunting PDA, and uploading couple-selfies to Instagram.
His weight fluctuated from a “dad bod” to trim and buff, and he was often photographed on his way to the gym, including as recently as late November in the lead-up to their resort wedding at One & Only Palmilla.
Stefanovic and Yarbrough’s romance — and 10-year age gap — raised eyebrows after Stefanovic’s messy breakup from Thorburn after 21 years of marriage.
The Nine star was said to have “blindsided” his ex by ending their marriage in 2016, and then five months later hooked up with Yarbrough in a very public manner.
They went public with their romance when they were photographed taking selfies on board a luxury boat on Sydney Harbour in February 2017.
The problems facing brand Karl Stefanovic in 2018 have been welldocumented.
Even Nine chief executive Hugh Marks acknowledged Stefanovic’s “tough” year.
“Karl has had a tough year, but I have every confidence that he can get back to what he is really good at and re-establish that connection with the audience,” Marks told News Corp Australia last month.
“If the audience sees him really working hard and treating them very seriously and delivering on what he can do, well then he can re-establish that connection. He is a fantastic broadcaster.”
Stefanovic is one of the highestpaid stars on Australian TV and his net worth is rumoured to be $10 million.
His annual salary at Nine’s Today is reportedly $2 million and he is paid substantial bonuses, which have been estimated to put his annual earnings at close to $3 million.
Reports have suggested Stefanovic has engaged an image consultant — brand marketer Mitch Catlin, who was instrumental in “making” the early career of Jennifer Hawkins — to overhaul his standing in the public eye.
This has so-far involved secret meetings to repair his personal brand.
Stefanovic has three children with ex-wife Thorburn: sons Jackson, 18, and River, 11, and daughter Ava, 12.
The new Karl’s style is a far cry from the man who famously wore the same navy suit for a year on Today in 2014 (only changing the tie and shirt), as part of an experiment to highlight sexism on TV.