Richard Reid, the former Today show entertainment reporter, drew attention Wednesday night at the launch of the Mitch Churi Chat Show in Sydney with a pronounced change of style, arriving in double denim with a sleeveless vest and flared jeans.
The 60-year-old described the look as an embrace of a "1970s Robert Redford era," saying he was channeling a "porn star meets ageing lifeguard" vibe and quipping that he was still "on the hunt for a cherry red Corvette," according to an interview with the Daily Mail. Photos from the event show Reid posing on the media wall and socializing with guests including Studio 10 presenter Angela Bishop, Human Nature's Phil Burton and Churi.
Reid has been a familiar face in Australian entertainment journalism for decades, known during his time on Channel Nine's Today for a clean-cut look and celebrity reporting. Since leaving the breakfast program, he has maintained a visible profile with television appearances, hosting work and a stint on I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, where he was crowned King of the Jungle in 2019.
At the launch, Reid adopted a lighthearted tone about his new wardrobe and the stage of life he said he is enjoying. He has previously worked red carpets in the United States and has said his favourite interview subjects included Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock.
Reid has also kept public about less flattering encounters with A-list figures. In 2021 he wrote about difficult exchanges with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, describing her behaviour toward staff and recounting two uncomfortable interactions from 1998 and 2004. In that column he said he had experienced what he called "DeGeneres' brand of terror" and later told the Daily Mail he found the host "no picnic." Reid did not expand on those encounters at the Sydney event.
Media appearances and live events have been central to Reid's post-Today career, and his change in appearance follows a broader trend among established media figures experimenting with more informal or nostalgic styles. At the Mitch Churi Chat Show launch, Reid joined a mix of television and music personalities for the opening, where he posed for photographs and chatted on the red carpet.
Representatives for Reid did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment about his new look or future projects. The Mitch Churi Chat Show launch continues a run of industry events in Sydney this season featuring local television talent and entertainers.