Nine presenter Georgie Gardner reportedly investigated after junior staffer made complaint

Veteran Nine presenter Georgie Gardner has reportedly been the subject of an internal investigation at the network after a staffer’s complaint.

Georgie Gardner has reportedly been the subject of an internal investigation at Channel 9 after a junior staffer lodged a complaint.

The Daily Telegraph reports the former Today co-host, 54, was allegedly involved in a “heated” incident with the unidentified staff member last month.

According to the outlet, the alleged incident unfolded after Gardner finished presenting the 9News Sydney bulletin, which the veteran broadcaster hosts Fridays and Saturdays.

Nine have not confirmed claims a probe was launched, with Director of News and Current Affairs Fiona Dear stating, “Georgie Gardner is a highly regarded longstanding member of our Nine News team. We offer no further comment.”

An insider who witnessed the alleged incident told the publication it is “the talk of the newsroom at the moment”.

Gardner is yet to comment.

Georgie Gardner is allegedly the subject of a complaint made by a junior staffer.

The Sydney-based journalist recently had two weeks’ leave, prompting staff to believe she was stood down pending an investigation.

However, it’s understood Gardner’s leave was pre-booked.

She returned to present the evening bulletin last Friday and Saturday.

Gardner is yet to comment on the allegation. Picture: Brendon Thorne - Pool/Getty Images

Gardner has reduced her workload with the network over the past few years after stepping down as Today co-host in late 2019.

The mother-of-two landed the coveted gig alongside Karl Stefanovic for 2018, after longtime co-host Lisa Wilkinson defected to Channel 10 following a pay dispute.

But Gardner’s stint on the breakfast show would only last two years.

Things got off to a rocky start for Gardner as the fallout from Stefanovic’s 2016 divorce from his wife of 21 years, Cassandra Thorburn, played out heavily in the media.

Stefanovic, now 50, began dating Jasmine Yarbrough, who is 10 years his junior, just months later, and ultimately married the shoe designer in a lavish wedding in Mexico in December 2018.

Karl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner co-hosted Today in 2018.

Gardner gave a rare interview on the It’s All Her podcast in October last year, breaking her silence on the duo’s difficult tenure working together.

She also denied rumours of tension with Stefanovic.

“Unfortunately things that were out of my control meant that it was a short-lived stint,” she said at the time.

“I had a year hosting with Karl, which was a lot of fun. But it was also a period in his personal life where there was a lot going on. And there was a lot of noise.

“We were never sort of able to get traction because there was always so much speculation about his private life. It was really tough for him. And it was tough for us.”

After Stefanovic was sensationally let go in late 2018, Nine journalist Deb Knight was brought in as his replacement in a bold shake-up.

Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner co-hosted Today for just 12 months.

But the partnership didn’t manage to find its footing with viewers as the show continued to plummet in viewership.

“It got to a point where I could see it just wasn’t going to work. So I just gracefully exited stage left and just continued on with my news, which is what I’m still doing today,” Gardner said.

It took only a year for Nine to bring Stefanovic back in a bid to resurrect dwindling ratings, teaming him up with Allison Langdon as co-host.

Langdon was replaced by Sarah Abo after taking over from Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair this year.

Originally published as Nine presenter Georgie Gardner reportedly investigated after junior staffer made complaint