Television host Karl Stefanovic has blocked comedian Henry Bretz on social media, despite Stefanovic's recent public commentary on free speech. Bretz, a host on MIX FM Drive, had gained over a million views since April for his impersonation videos of Stefanovic. He told The Daily Telegraph that Stefanovic initially followed and liked his first video, but unfollowed and subsequently blocked him after a second, more critical impression was posted.
Bretz stated that he began impersonating Stefanovic in April, noting the host's apparent attempt to distance himself from mainstream media despite a 21-year television career. One of Bretz's videos, which mocked Stefanovic's departure from Channel Nine, drew a notable comment from Stefanovic's former co-host, Lisa Wilkinson. In the satirical clip, Bretz, imitating Stefanovic's voice, questioned his firing over an interview with Tommy Robinson while Wilkinson was not fired for her own outspoken comments.
Wilkinson, who departed Channel Nine in 2017 over a reported gender pay gap dispute, endorsed Bretz's video. She commented, "This is hilarious. The brilliant @henry__bretz," adding a pointed remark about her own exit: "Hey, hang on, I WAS fired for going on with all that 'women's s**t'."
Stefanovic's own departure from Channel Nine came after he uploaded an interview with Tommy Robinson to his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, and subsequently deleted it following backlash. Channel Nine stated that Stefanovic could not continue with the network while hosting his podcast. Stefanovic, a long-serving personality at Nine, had six months and over $1 million remaining on his contract. He and Channel Nine reportedly agreed to an undisclosed six-figure settlement.
Wilkinson had previously spoken about her departure from Nine, describing feeling "humiliated" and "betrayed" when she was dismissed from the Today show. She recalled being told of her ousting by her agent while shopping and suggested her dismissal was an attempt to "humiliate" her during negotiations to close the gender pay gap. Wilkinson noted that the pay gap she experienced was significant and that she felt "very expendable," not even having the opportunity to bid farewell to her audience.