Karl Stefanovic speaks out after ‘trolls’ target Narelda Jacobs for outfit

Today host Karl Stefanovic has spoken out after a Channel 10 newsreader exposed a “humiliating” email sent to her entire newsroom about an outfit she wore on air.

Channel 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs has exposed a “humiliating” email sent to her entire newsroom about an outfit she wore on-air Tuesday.

The Australian journalist, who hosts the network’s midday bulletin 10 News First, was reporting on-air at the time the email was sent, where she was wearing a V-neck blouse and a conservative patterned blazer.

“Subject: Narelda Jacobs. News.

“Feedback: Inappropriate dress sense for reading the news. Cleavage is for the nightclub,” the email read.

Jacobs shared a screenshot of the email to Instagram on Wednesday.

“Yes, we still receive emails like this,” she wrote. “Yes, it went to the entire newsroom.”

Narelda Jacobs was "shamed" for her on-air outfit during Tuesday's Ten bulletin.

“Yes, I was on air at the time. Yes, it is intended to shame and humiliate me,” Jacobs, 48, continued.

“No, what I’m wearing is not inappropriate but your email sure is.”

This comes a decade since TV anchor Karl Stefanovic wore the same cheap Burberry knock-off suit for one year — without a single audience member noticing.

“Nothing has changed for women in the media since then,” he told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.

“Narelda is a great newsreader. Full stop.”

Karl Stefanovic poses with Today host Sarah Abo at a Nine function at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Picture: Mark Stewart.

Angered by the sexism Stefanovic saw being heaped upon his female colleagues – namely Lisa Wilkinson in 2014 – he decided to conduct an experiment.

He wore the same blue suit on air, two days in a row. Then three. A month ticked by without a ripple.

After a full calendar year of daily appearances on Channel 9’s Today in the same outfit, Stefanovic was yet to receive any “feedback” on his attire. The sentiment made headlines around the world.

“My colleagues Sarah [Abo] and Brooke [Boney] cop it every day from trolls,” Stefanovic said today.

“They are incredible professionals and wonderful people. They don’t deserve it.

“Platforms should not allow it. Trolls shouldn’t have a voice. They don’t deserve one.

“It infuriates me what [my female colleagues] deal with.”

Narelda Jacobs shared an email shaming her for her on-air outfit.

Narelda Jacobs at the TV WEEK Logie Awards in 2023. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images

Fans, friends, and colleagues rallied around Jacobs in the comment section, with fellow female journalists sharing their own examples of sexist criticism.

Dessert Masters judge Melissa Leong wrote, “File under ‘When you really hate yourself, so you decide to email random strangers to tell them.’”

Retired swimmer Giaan Rooney added, “Yep. The number of emails the newsroom used to get attacking everything about my appearance when I was presenting the weather was incredible.”

“Clearly, Darly needs to get to more nightclubs,” Mamamia executive editor Holly Wainright wrote.

“No one has noticed; no one gives a sh-t,” Stefanovic said in 2014 after unveiling the results of his experiment.

“I’m judged on my interviews, my appalling sense of humour – on how I do my job, basically. Whereas women are quite often judged on what they’re wearing or how their hair is.”

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