Karl Stefanovic’s midlife crisis
Friends fear the lovestruck Today star is headed for a career-ending fall
He’s spent the past few months carrying on like a lovesick teenager, putting on amorous displays in the street, cavorting at Fashion Week and even spruiking his girlfriend’s friends’ businesses on social media.
But while Karl Stefanovic, 42, has been busy parading his new love Jasmine Yarbrough, others have branded his out-of- character behaviour as “cringeworthy” and believe the presenter might be in the grip of a midlife crisis. There are even concerns the golden boy of TV could be about to derail his career.
“There have been rumours for months that Karl is sick of working at Today and wants out. Now his bizarre behaviour is making everyone wonder if he’s purposefully trying to distance himself from his old image,” says an industry insider, adding that nothing was more telling than Karl flashing his copy of the book, The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck at waiting paparazzi.
And no one is more worried about the TV host’s attentionseeking behaviour and falling popularity than his own brother Peter and Pete’s new wife Sylvia Jeffreys.
Sources say the pair, also Nine presenters, are worried Karl’s over-the-top antics and partying could spell trouble for him – and them.
It certainly seems as though Pete and Sylvia are doing their best to stay away from the drama. After a source revealed to
Woman’s Day that Sylvia, 31, had
banned Jasmine, 33, from her wedding over fears “she’d turn it into a media circus”, Sylvia has continued to distance herself from the shoe designer.
When Karl and Jasmine’s mums flew into Sydney to spend time with the pair a few weeks ago, Pete and Sylvia were notably absent from the family gatherings. And despite putting in an appearance at Fashion Week, Sylvia was nowhere to be seen when Karl and Pete’s mum Jenny and Jasmine’s mother Cheryl sat beside the new couple at Justin Cassin’s show.
Of course, Karl and Jasmine’s attention was elsewhere. The pair looked to be having plenty of fun as they supported Jasmine’s new bestie Christian “the Prince” Wilkins, 22, at his runway debut, and Karl later cavorted with male model-of-the moment Jordan Barrett, 20, backstage.
It’s no secret Nine bosses have warned their staff against talking about Karl’s situation in a bid to stop “embarrassing rumours circulating about his midlife crisis”. Even Karl’s co-host Lisa Wilkinson has refused to be drawn, saying: “It’s just not my business.”
And it’s not just his colleagues who are unimpressed by the Today anchor’s behaviour. Earlier this month radio host Jackie O voiced her fears that Karl was alienating his female fans with the insensitive parading of his new relationship in the wake of his split from wife of 21 years Cassandra Thorburn.
“And this is what they [women] think: ‘He’s just left her for some young 20-year-old and he’s cavorting around, kissing her, cuddling her, for everyone to see,’” explained Jackie O.
Radio host Meshel Laurie has also been quick to brand Karl “a bit bloody shameless and rotten” for being so public about his new romance. “He’s posed for a cute photo waiting for his girlfriend to get her hair done... If you don’t want to be talked about, that’s probably the wrong way to go about it,” Meshel said on air.
And in a week where Karl’s bitter rift with his estranged father Alex has made headlines, Today’s ratings have hit an all-time low and people are questioning Jasmine’s motives, it’s not surprising that friends are asking the father-of-three if he may need to take stock of his behaviour.
‘He’s cavorting around, kissing her, cuddling her, for everyoneone to see’