Australian television host Karl Stefanovic has lost the first round in a legal battle over his podcast business, failing in an attempt to remove his partner, Keshnee Ibrahim, from their company.
A judge, reportedly known as 'The Hammer,' rejected Stefanovic's bid to have Ibrahim ousted as a director of the 123 Podcast company. Stefanovic had allegedly planned to replace Ibrahim with his longtime manager, Sharon Finnigan, in a vote that was set to take place Friday morning. His plan involved pairing his vote with that of celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, who owned 10 percent of the company's shares, to outvote Ibrahim.
The relationship between Stefanovic and Ibrahim has reportedly deteriorated significantly since August. Adding to the personal rift, Stefanovic's wife, Jasmine, and Ibrahim, who were once friends, have unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Stefanovic, a prominent figure in Australian television, co-founded the podcast company with Ibrahim. The legal proceedings mark a significant development in their business partnership, with the court's decision indicating a setback for Stefanovic's efforts to unilaterally restructure the company.