Australia reacts to Michael Clarke and Karl Stefanovic’s wild public showdown

Broadcasters Ray Hadley and Ben Fordham are among media commentators to address the Michael Clarke cheating scandal, as Karl Stefanovic stayed deafeningly silent.

Veteran radio host Ray Hadley kept it simple when it came to offering advice for the recently embattled Michael Clarke, telling the cricket legend to “keep it in your pants, son”.

“If I were to give advice to a 41-year-old male adult, who I don’t know ... it would be along the lines of ‘keep it in your pants son’,” the 2GB broadcaster said.

The media world couldn’t help but react to the viral video, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, which shows Australian icons Michael Clarke and Karl Stefanovic caught up in a wild showdown with their partners in a public park.

The shocking footage saw the two high profile celebrities and their partners - sisters Jade and Jasmine Yarbrough - in a scuffle, which was all caught on film by a bystander.

Michael Clarke and Jade Yarbrough in November. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty

Hadley’s colleague, Ben Fordham, also spoke against the cricketer before defending his Channel 9 ally Karl Stefanovic.

“Karl Stefanovic’s name has been dragged into it because he happened to be there, and Michael Clarke turned on Karl too,” he said.

“Really, really disgraceful language that was used by Michael Clarke, as far as I can see it has nothing to do with Karl apart from the fact that he was there.”

Ray Hadley. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Ben Fordham from 2GB. Picture: Supplied/ACRA

Fordham finished by suggesting to Michael Clarke that he should clean his dirty laundry.

“It’s between Michael Clarke and his girlfriends.”

Today host Karl Stefanovic was expected to face the music on Thursday morning, but the spat was not mentioned once throughout the popular program.

However, the TV host appeared somewhat flustered, welcoming viewers to “this lovely Wednesday” on Thursday morning.

The video shows Jade Yarlborough slap Clark, who she accuses of cheating.

Michael Clarke in a screen grab from the video.

TV rivals Channel 7 didn’t pull any punches when it came to the matter, mentioning the wild showdown as a leading news story on Sunrise.

“It’s like a scene from Housos,” Sunrise entertainment reporter Peter Ford said.

Ford slammed Clarke for ‘swearing on his daughter’, which is captured on video when the drunk cricketer attempts to defend his actions.

“An angry and public spat can be forgiven. Bad language can be forgiven. But there are four words Michael, Clarke used that have destroyed his reputation forever. Tomorrow across Australia,” he posted to his Twitter account on Wednesday night.

KIIS FM co-hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson shared their thoughts on the tussle in their widely listened to radio program, with Sandilands saying he “nearly died” when he heard the news.

He joked that he’s “been involved in thousands of fights like that”.

“Why are they shirtless in a public park?”

KIIS FM host Kyle Sandilands. Picture: KIIS FM

KIIS FM host Jackie O. Picture: KIIS FM

Sandilands continued by saying that he’d disappear forever if any videos circulated of him fighting with his partner.

“If we all sit around and we think what’s our worst fight we’ve ever ever had with our partner, imagine someone filming that and putting that on The Daily Telegraph … No thanks. I’d disappear forever, you’d never see me again,” he laughed.

Jackie “O” also defended the cricketer saying, “This is not the Michael Clarke I know.”

The pair finished by taking a more serious stance on the situation, with Kyle adding: “I hope they all do alright.”

The news headlined several Australian networks and tabloids, but many people have been seeing the funny side to it, posting several memes on the topic of the dispute.

Just obtained more footage of the Michael Clarke/Karl Stefanovic fracas. pic.twitter.com/HukiIdxBqh

— Ira Snave (@IraSnave) January 18, 2023

#BREAKING: More footage has surfaced of Michael Clarke and Karl Stefanovic’s brawl on the Sunshine Coast pic.twitter.com/ra8l8NsOtu

— jackson langford (@jacksonlangford) January 18, 2023

🚨Lastest footage of Michael Clarke and Karl Stefanovic having a scrap🚨 pic.twitter.com/WOzOksfXm1

— KP (@TabLordKP) January 18, 2023

The words "Michael Clarke and Karl Stefanovic involved in a dispute in Noosa" mean nothing to non australians but to Australians this is top tier bogan drama

— Ali Rose (@princess_yosuke) January 18, 2023

Michael Clarke has since apologised telling the Telegraph on Wednesday night: “I accept full responsibility for this altercation and am shattered by my actions”.