Billionaire Adrian Portelli vows to help embattled Channel 9 star sacked over $50k payment fallout

Billionaire Adrian Portelli has taken to Instagram with a vow to help an embattled Channel 9 presenter who stepped down over the fallout from a $50k payment.

Colourful billionaire Adrian Portelli has taken to Instagram with a vow to help an embattled Channel 9 star, after he was sacked from the network following a fallout from accepting a $50,000 payment.

Today show presenter Alex Cullen has been at the centre of the bizarre controversy over the week after accepting $50,000 from the Melbourne entrepreneur and founder of car giveaway company LMCT.

Portelli had taken to Instagram earlier in the month complaining of his nickname “Lambo Guy” - offering the figure to any journalist who called him by his preferred new name “McLaren Man”.

Billionaire Adrian Portelli has publicly posted in support of embattled Channel 9 presenter Alex Cullen after he was sacked from the network. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Cullen parted ways with Channel 9 following a fallout from the presenter accepting a $50,000 payment from Portelli, after he used his new nickname “McLaren Man” during a live cross. Picture: Supplied

Cullen used the new nickname during a live cross on-air on January 17, with Mr Portelli later posting a screenshot of the money coming into the presenter’s bank account.

Nine swiftly took action - pulling Cullen from the show and launching an investigation.

This week, the network confirmed Cullen would not be returning.

“Nine is taking this matter extremely seriously,” a Nine spokesperson said in a statement to news.com.au

“Appropriate action has been promptly taken, including arranging for the funds to be returned.

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

Portelli has since broken his silence over the after the sacking - taking to Instagram announcing he was “happy to collaborate” with the presenter in the future, while pledging $25,000 to the RSPCA.

Portelli took to Instagram offering to collaborate with Cullen, while pledging $50,000 to charities. Picture: Instagram

Portelli called Cullen an ‘absolute gentleman’. Picture: Instagram

His post contained a screenshot of a matching $25,000 donation to The Salvation Army.

“I’ve kept pretty quiet about what unfolded with Alex, but even before he’d heard from Ch9, we had a conversation where he expressed his desire to donate the money,” Mr Portelli said in the post.

“That speaks volumes about his character.”

“Alex, you’re an absolute gentleman.”

Parts of the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA) Journalist Code of Ethics relate to the acceptance of cash and gifts - including how journalists should not “allow any payment, gift or benefit, to undermine your accuracy, fairness or independence”.

It also states journalists should not improperly use their position for personal gain.

A screenshot of the payment - posted to Portelli’s Instagram - that landed Cullen in so much trouble. Picture: Instagram

Cullen also posted about the on-air stunt on his own page. Picture: Instagram .

Portelli also attacked Herald Sun journalist Fiona Byrne for using the “Lambo Guy” nickname in her reporting- offering $5000 to any one of his thousands of followers who could write the “best comment” on her Instagram page.

It led to Byrne being bombarded with a deluge of abusive and vile comments.
Following Cullen’s departure, Today host Karl Stefanovic revealed the news on air on Friday while saying he was a “terrific fella”.

“Alex has, of course, been part of the Today family for five years now, he’s always ready with a smile and a laugh and without hesitation speaking for all of us here, we can say that we are going to miss him terribly, that’s for sure,” Stefanovic said.

“What you see is what you get, and he has been a great mate to all of us over these years.

“We wish Alex, his wife Bonnie and his beautiful kids all the very best for the future.”

Originally published as Billionaire Adrian Portelli vows to help embattled Channel 9 star sacked over $50k payment fallout