Karl Stefanovic dumped from Today show
Channel Nine insiders have revealed the reason behind Karl Stefanovic’s axing from the morning show Today, following ratings plunges, his very public break-up and lavish wedding.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Karl Stefanovic’s excessive Mexican wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough was the last straw for Channel 9, which sensationally dumped the Gold Logie winner as Today co-host.
“The Karl situation was a pressure-cooker and we needed to release the valve,” a senior Nine source told the Herald Sun.
Karl’s shock exit comes a day after Nine sacked his brother, journalist and presenter Peter Stefanovic, and moved to redeploy his wife, Today newsreader Sylvia Jeffries.
KARL’S HIGHS AND LOWS ON TODAY
HOW IT ALL FELL APART FOR PETER STEFANOVIC
OPINION: PETER STEFANOVIC EXIT IS START OF AVALANCHE
Karl’s former Today colleagues addressed his sacking on this morning’s show.
Entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins, in a prepared speech, described him as “an intoxicating mix of world’s best broadcaster and naughty schoolboy”.
“There is no secret that the past year or so has been difficult times for Karl but I can say he has walked into the studio every morning with energy and passion bringing ideas to make the show bigger and better,” he said.
Nine chiefs were furious about the “over-the-top” extravagance of Karl’s Cabo San Lucas wedding, which extended to three days of celebrations and was splashed across the media.
Stefanovic, whose personal life has been a rollercoaster recently, thought his wedding would be a turning point.
But ex-wife Cassie Thorburn and eldest son Jackson have since launched blistering attacks on him.
Before the wedding, Nine had assured Stefanovic his job was safe.
“Karl had no idea — he left for Mexico thinking he would still be on Today,” a source said.
“They told him face to face. They looked him in the eye. But the writing was on the wall.”
The axe fell on Karl, who said: “It’s been a tough time.”
“I can’t thank Nine enough for the opportunity. For the past 14 years I have hosted the best show on television,” he said.
Industry sources said the flashy nuptials were a deal-breaker: the network could not rebuild the image of a primetime host who had staged a “big fat Mexican wedding” with a glamorous new bride.
Wishing @karlstefanovic all the best. Because when it was good, it was great...@thetodayshow https://t.co/4r3F8sZ1Vx
— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) December 19, 2018
Thorburn’s sniping from the sidelines only added to the damage. Her most recent complaint was about the cost of Yarbrough’s “five make-up artists” flown into the wedding from Los Angeles.
Other insiders claim the network had wanted the wedding to be “a debacle” so they could force Karl’s hand, and show him the door.
“And look what a shemozzle it turned out to be,” an insider said.
“Nine never wanted the wedding to be a toned-down affair.
“(The) wedding gave them just the out they needed.”
Nine has said that Stefanovic’s exit is part of wider changes to Today. A new line-up and format are due to be unveiled on January 14.
“Karl remains on contract and will continue to host This Time Next Year, which records in February,” Nine director of news and current affairs Darren Wick said.
Other sources said the removal of one Stefanovic, and redeployment of another, was a clear indicator of sweeping changes at the newly merged Nine-Fairfax media empire.
A source said Nine bosses were sending a message that they were willing to make reforms, even involving its biggest stars.
Executives at Nine are now said to be watching closely to gauge whether Today replacement anchors Brenton Raglass and Deborah Knight have the star power to carry the ailing breakfast show.
KARL’S ROCKY ROAD
KARL M.I.A. AFTER MARRIAGE SPLIT
SEPTEMBER 20, 2016: Karl pulls out of hosting duties on the Today Show amid reports that he and his wife Cassandra had split after 21 years of marriage. At the time, his co-host Lisa Wilkinson and Sylvia Jeffreys briefly referenced his absence at the top of the show, with Lisa claiming he was off doing “a 60 Minutes tidy up”.
OCTOBER 2016: Karl’s marriage to Cassandra ends after he moves out of the family home.
When the couple announced their split they also immediately put their Lindfield property in Sydney on the market while Stefanovic moved out to stay at his close friend James Packer’s Bondi apartment. After less than two weeks on the market, the family home sold for $3.8 million.
KARL TAKES THE SUMMER OFF
NOVEMBER 2016: Nine news boss Darren Wick confirmed Karl was being rested over summer, to allow for him to deal with his family issues. “Previously what we’ve done with Karl is that he has often shot 60 Minutes stories over the summer,” Wick said.
“We don’t want him doing that this year — just have a break. Obviously what he’s working through with his family situation … he needs to have a break and just rest and spend time with his family. He’s going to do that and come back fresh next year.”
KARL MEETS JASMINE
DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016/2017: Karl goes on a two-month sabbatical. During this time, he and his new girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough appear to be together on social media and celebrate Christmas as a couple. The pair met after he left Cassandra.
THE FIRST RATINGS SLIDE
FEBRUARY 5, 2017: A week into his return from a two-month sabbatical, The Today Show found itself soundly beaten by Sunrise every single day last week across the five-city metro ratings figures. The Daily Telegraph reported that the biggest disparity came on Monday, with Sunrise out-rating Today by 95,000 sets of eyeballs (Sunrise drew 337,000 viewers to Today’s 243,000).
APRIL 10, 2017: Karl’s best mate and temporary Today show replacement Ben Fordham defended him, “because his family is going through a tough time.” Fordham had to clarify why he was sitting in for Stefanovic, after he told his Instagram followers Karl was taking a “well earned break” — only for Lisa Wilkinson to then tell viewers her co-host was “on assignment.”
MAY 7, 2017: Karl and Cassandra reportedly finalise their divorce.
KARL ADMITS TO FAILURE
JULY 23, 2017: In an interview with Stellar magazine, Karl Stefanovic revealed he’s felt ashamed and that he had failed. But he hoped he would become a better man after his marriage breakdown and his new romance with Jasmine Yarbrough. He said he had “been through some personal stuff that’s been difficult on everyone in my family”.
“That has been the hardest aspect: the increased public interest, or coverage, makes it more intense to navigate through. But it isn’t a world event, it’s not a national event, it’s not a community event. I don’t know where to place it. It confuses the hell out of me.”
LISA LEAVES KARL IN STUNNING EXIT
OCTOBER 16-17, 2017: Karl’s long-time co-host Lisa Wilkinson quits The Today Show after 10 years, as they refuse to pay her the same amount as Karl which was reported to be $2 million. She then joined Ten and The Project with a pay packet reported to be worth in excess of $2 million. On air, Karl told viewers: “It all came as a bit of a shock to us”.
KARL AND NEW CO-HOST GEORGIE STRUGGLE
JANUARY 23-24, 2018: Karl and Georgie Gardner failed to take advantage of the novelty factor of a new presenting duo on their first day on air together — with Seven’s Sunrise winning both five-city and national ratings on January 23. They were beaten by market leaders, Sam Armytage and David Koch, who won the national battle 480,000 viewers to Today’s 378,000 people. While the ratings took a hit, they steadied in 2017.
KARL GETS ENGAGED
JANUARY 27, 2018: A few days later, Karl and Jasmine celebrate her 34th birthday in style.
KARL AND JASMINE GET ENGAGED
FEBRUARY 6 2018: Karl and Jasmine get engaged after meeting in 2016. The pair went public with their engagement after she flashed her enormous ring at the Harper’s Bazaar Australia’s 20th anniversary party in Sydney. The Daily Telegraph later confirmed the high profile couple were engaged, according to a friend who spilt the news. “They are very happy and enjoying this special time together,” they friend said, adding that the proposal was “very new”.
KARL AND JASMINE’S COMMITMENT CEREMONY
MARCH 10-11, 2018: Karl and Jasmine held a commitment ceremony in Palm Beach. While not legally binding, it was held at a private house. He told The Sunday Telegraph afterwards: “We are very much in love. We clicked right from the start. It’s a commitment ceremony. It was lovely.” Among the guests were Stefanovic’s youngest children Ava, 13, and River, 11, who were surprised by the ceremony. Karl’s eldest son Jackson, 18, did not attend. His brother Peter and wife Syvlia Jeffreys also attended the event.
KARL AND PETE’S UBERGATE SCANDAL
MARCH 11, 2018: News emerged that a taxi driver was trying to sell a recording of a private phone conversation between brothers Karl and Peter Stefanovic, according to veteran Australian entertainment reporter Peter Ford. Ford made the allegations on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, after teasing the story on Twitter. He told the radio hosts the private phone call happened when Peter was in the back of an Uber late at night, speaking to his brother and fellow Nine Network celebrity Karl on speakerphone. Karl was said to have been discussing ongoing problems about his working relationship with Gardner, his new co-anchor.
MARCH 12, 2018: More details came to light about the nature of the phone conversation, as inside sources claimed to The Daily Telegraph that Nine’s senior management held extraordinary talks with executives in an attempt to manage the mounting crisis.
MARCH 17: 2018: Both brothers broke their silence and publicly apologised in an interview with News Corp’s Sunday Telegraph. “We talk a hundred times a day and hardly ever about work,” Karl said. “But we did, and the conversation was recorded. And we are sorry. I was angry with myself at first that I could be so stupid.” Peter also apologised for the conversation. A spokesman for Nine said: “Clearly it was school behaviour between brothers but that’s no excuse.”
NINE STILL IN DAMAGE CONTROL
MARCH 20, 2018: Karl appears on Today with Deborah Knight. Georgie is sent out to cover the bushfires at Tathra in NSW. Her removal from the desk at Nine’s Sydney HQ comes after she called out Karl for being “pathetic”. Knight’s appearance on the Today Show comes after she revealed she had hopes of getting Wilkinson’s job after she left. Karl’s brother Peter, who was involved in the controversial Uber phone call is still out reporting from the bushfires in Bega, NSW.
KARL GOES M.I.A AGAIN
MAY, 2018: As Karl went on a week’s leave stand-in host Ben Fordham came back to sit by Georgie’s side. Fordham announced via Instagram: “I’m hosting @TheTodayShow this week with this awesome human. Tune in.” with a picture of himself and Georgie Gardner.
KARL GETS ROASTED AT THE LOGIES
JULY 1, 2018: With his fiancee Jasmine by his side, Logies host Dave Hughes has a crack at Karl in his opening monologue.
“You shouldn’t have been bitching about your work colleagues. You shouldn’t have,” he said.
“I’m sure Georgie is very happy, isn’t she there. Still on the fence Georgie or did you take a pale off it and hit him in the head with it?” Hughesy went on, referencing when Stefanovic accused his colleague of “sitting on the fence”.
KARL AND GEORGIE ADMIT TO FRICTION
JULY, 2018: The Today Show co-hosts were guests on the Hit Network’s Hughesy & Kate show and were grilled about their relationship.
“There’s a fraction of friction between you two,” Kate Langbroek said to them.
“A fraction too much friction,” replied Gardner.
“Is there too much?” asked Langbroek.
“Occasionally,” Gardner admitted.
KARL’S WEDDING LOCKED IN
AUGUST 26, 2018: Karl and Jasmine’s wedding details emerge. The wedding is to take place at an ulta-high-end resort at Cabo San Lucas in Mexico on December 8.
‘I wouldn’t even s*** that’: What you missed on Wentworth
Wentworth does WikiLeaks in the third episode of the new season, as the Foxtel drama welcomes a new face. And there’s drama for Reb and Lou. Warning: Spoilers.
Cocaine Cassie trades nude snaps for cash
Convicted South Australian drug smuggler “Cocaine Cassie” is swapping nude photos with men in Australia for cash while serving out the remainder of her sentence on parole in Colombia.