Karl Stefanovic will not attend the upcoming 2026 Logie Awards, despite being nominated for the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter. Stefanovic stated that he wishes Channel Seven's Natalie Barr had received the nomination in his place.
"I think Nat Barr should get the nomination in my place," Stefanovic told the Daily Telegraph. "The woman is brilliant... has been for years. She deserves to be in that company."
Stefanovic, alongside his former Today co-star Sarah Abo, is nominated for the award. Barr is not in contention for this particular honor.
Stefanovic confirmed his decision to skip the ceremony, citing potential awkwardness. "No. [It would be a] tad awkward," he said. His absence means he will not encounter former Channel Nine colleagues at the event.
Stefanovic departed Channel Nine in June following controversy surrounding an interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The interview was initially uploaded to the YouTube channel for Stefanovic's podcast, "The Karl Stefanovic Show," but was removed less than 12 hours later after facing widespread criticism. The discussion between Stefanovic and Robinson covered topics including Islam, immigration, and Australian politics.
Stefanovic, who has been dubbed 'Joe Bogan' for his podcast's format, launched "The Karl Stefanovic Show" in January. He has since interviewed several right-wing figures on his podcast, including Australian politicians like Pauline Hanson, Barnaby Joyce, Sean Bell, former Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, and Coalition members Alex Antic, Matt Canavan, and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Tommy Robinson, a figure in UK right-wing activism for nearly a decade, has a criminal record that includes convictions for violence, public order offenses, contempt of court, stalking, harassment of journalists, and fraud-related offenses.