Paparazzi camped outside Karl Stefanovic’s hotel in NY, ‘waiting for him to bring back female company’

ORDINARILY he would have flown under the radar in the US, however Karl Stefanovic is now a wanted man as he carries out US election duties for the Today show.

• Nine puts Karl on enforced leave
• Karl’s estranged wife doesn’t have Sunrise job
• Cassandra wants credit for TV success
• Karl may have to hand $8m home to wife

ORDINARILY he would have flown under the radar in the US, however Karl Stefanovic is now a wanted man.

In the wake of his marriage split from partner of 21 years, Cassandra Thorburn, local paparazzi have been tracking both the Nine host and his ex-wife, however the hunt for the money shot has gone global.

Stefanovic met these two impersonators at New York’s Times Square. Picture: Karl Stefanovic/Instagram

Stefanovic is understood to have up to five snappers waiting for him out the front of his hotel in New York’s Times Square — where he is carrying out US election duties for Today — the bounty being a newsworthy image of the father-of-three.

“They will be hoping for Karl to have a few drinks at night, which we know he’s partial to doing, and bringing female company back to his hotel,” one paparazzi said.

“There is a massive demand for pictures of Karl and anyone who’s keeping his toes warm.

“You could name your price if you had the right type of images. People are really invested in this yarn.”

Stefanovic is joined by international correspondent Tom Steinfort and crew members Sam Reynolds and Michael Barrett in New York, with reports suggesting the trio were planning on celebrating the TV hosts’s new single status.

Paparazzi are following Karl after his split with wife Cassandra. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Other Nine journalists in the US covering the election include Channel Nine’s Robert Penfold, who is in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Sunday Telegraph broke the news the couple had split last month and while representatives for the couple suggested the split was amicable, it has since gotten nasty.

The slanging match began when Thorburn took to Facebook slyly acknowledging the recent ratings win for Today and outlining the role she’s played in the program’s success since her husband joined as co-host 12 years ago.

“Apparently Today Show finally won a year,” she wrote.

“This took a huge toll on my family and I, and I’m congratulating myself today for all the effort that went into making that happen.”

“The suggestions, the story ideas, the constant counselling of questions for years. I’m giving myself a pat on the back tonight, as I know many people will also know how much effort I put into it.”

The Today Show host is in New York for the US election. Picture: Karl Stefanovic Instagram

She has since enlisted celebrity agent Max Markson who is “offering her advice” and helping the former journalist secure work.

The couple’s recent real estate purchases are also in question with Thorburn reportedly fighting to keep the $8 million Cremorne mansion the pair purchased a month before splitting.