‘Appalling’: Surprise twist in Alex Cullen, Adrian Portelli scandal

Nine is taking Alex Cullen’s Adrian Portelli stunt “extremely seriously” – but will this swift action come back to bite the network?

Popular Nine presenter Alex Cullen has received a groundswell of support from viewers after the network took him off-air in the wake of his Adrian Portelli scandal.

Portelli had gifted Cullen $50,000 after the Today presenter took up the Block billionaire’s latest challenge: Tired of the “Lambo guy” nickname he’d earned in the media ever since he arrived at the 2022 Block auction day in a Lamborghini, Portelli offered the huge cash prize to the first journalist who publicly referred to him by his new preferred moniker: “McLaren Man.”

Cullen took the bait on-air on Friday’s episode of Today, and then shared footage on social media showing he had referred to Portelli by his new nickname. Portelli stuck to his word, and soon shared a screenshot of a bank transfer showing he’d sent Cullen $50k for his efforts.

In a statement to news.com.au yesterday, Cullen’s employer the Nine Network said they had arranged for the money to be returned, had taken Cullen off-air, and were taking the matter “extremely seriously.”

Alex Cullen has been taken off air …

… and Nine says Portelli’s $50k payment has been returned.

Viewers appear to be taking it less so. Cullen’s latest Instagram post, shared days before the scandal erupted, has now attracted more than 100 comments of support.

“Channel 9 will be losing plenty of viewers if it’s true that they fired you. You’re awesome,” reads the top-rated comment under Cullen’s post.

“I feel so sorry for you! I won’t be watching Channel 9 anymore,” another fan promised.

Another insisted that the Today show “will be nothing without you on,” and another wrote that they “cannot believe they have stood you down.”

Others declared they’d be switching over to Sunrise until Cullen was back on-air and even called for a Nine boycott.

“What a joke!!! Channel 9 should be boycotted if they have fired you!!!” wrote one passionate fan.

“If Channel 9 sack you because of taking 50k that is absolutely appalling on @channel9’s behalf,” said another.

Several fans suggested Cullen should seek work with Portelli – one suggesting he become the billionaire’s “personal journalist” (whatever that means).

Nine yesterday confirmed that the $50,000 had been returned to Portelli.

Cullen shared proof that he’d used Portelli’s new nickname on-air.

Portelli soon sent the Nine presenter $50k as promised.

“Appropriate action has been promptly taken, including arranging for the funds to be returned,” a spokesperson for the network told news.com.au.

“While we review the circumstances in which this occurred, Alex has agreed to stand down.”

Several points on the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance Journalist Code of Ethics relate to the acceptance of cash and gifts. The code states that journalists should not “allow any payment, gift or benefit, to undermine your accuracy, fairness or independence,” and that they should “not improperly use a journalistic position for personal gain.”

As news of the controversy spread, Portelli took to Instagram to speak out, focusing his attentions against journalists who still refer to him using his hated “Lambo guy” nickname.

Fans flocked to Cullen’s latest Insta post (pictured) to offer their support.

“I wanted to show the media that I do have a large platform as well, and I’m not afraid to use it. Maybe be a bit more respectful, and I’ll respect you guys as well,” he said in a video posted on Saturday night. He is yet to comment publicly about Cullen being taken off-air.

Online promotions guru Portelli has become a well-known and arguably infamous Australian public figure in recent years, thanks in no small part to his scene-stealing antics during the past three finales of Nine’s hit reno series, The Block.

He outdid himself during the show’s 2024 season finale, buying all five Block houses at auction in an act he insisted would serve as his swansong for the show.

News.com.au has contacted Cullen for comment but has not received a response.

Originally published as ‘Appalling’: Surprise twist in Alex Cullen, Adrian Portelli scandal