Karl Stefanovic has officially departed from the Nine Network's "Today" show and the network itself, following controversy surrounding an interview he conducted with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The announcement was made on-air by his co-host, Sarah Abo, who became emotional as she delivered the news.
"Look, we know there has been a lot of speculation about Karl’s future with the show. Today, we wanted to inform you that Karl will not be returning to the Today show or to Nine," Abo stated, reportedly through tears.
Fill-in host Tom Steinfort added that Stefanovic would be focusing on an independent podcast project, stating, "As you know, he’s been pursuing a podcast project independently of Nine for the past few months, and it’s been decided he’ll be injecting all of his energy and attention into that, as doing both is no longer possible."
The decision comes after Stefanovic uploaded a controversial interview with Robinson to his YouTube podcast, "The Karl Stefanovic Show." The interview, which reportedly discussed Islam, immigration, and Australian politics, was removed hours after its release on Tuesday due to widespread backlash. On Wednesday evening, The Sydney Morning Herald confirmed Stefanovic's departure from Nine, suggesting the move was partly intended to "defuse a major advertiser boycott."
Stefanovic, who is currently on leave in London, was reportedly informed by the network that they "wanted to part ways" and is expected to leave immediately. The TV personality has been with Nine for approximately 25 years. He has reportedly six months remaining on his contract, valued at over $1 million, and is seeking a full payout.
Sources indicate that Stefanovic aimed to be released from his contract promptly to pursue other media ventures. "The Australian" had previously reported that Stefanovic had "almost certainly" made his final appearance on the breakfast show.
Activist group Mad F**king Witches (MFW) had launched a campaign against Stefanovic over the podcast, noting their history of organizing advertising boycotts. The organization stated that the removal of the podcast by Nine did not quell their concerns.
Prior to Stefanovic's resignation, a Nine spokesperson confirmed that "The Karl Stefanovic Show" was an independent production with no affiliation to the network. However, the spokesperson added that Nine was "taking this matter seriously."