The rise and fall of Karl Stefanovic

Not long ago, Karl Stefanovic was on top of the world.

A devoted family man with a fondness for cringeworthy ‘dad jokes’, Channel Nine’s golden boy was a favourite to replace Tracy Grimshaw as host of A Current Affair.

But in the seven years since winning big at the Logies in 2011, the TV star’s reputation has dwindled as a result of a headline-making dramas.

Amid a blaze of negative headlines, Karl’s divorce, his new engagement and his attitude towards colleagues has tarnished his public image.

As a result, the Today show has nosedived in the ratings, plunging to a 10-year low this week as Nine executives scramble to find answers.

The start of the program’s downward spiral can be traced back to September 2016, when it emerged Karl, 44, had separated from his wife and the mother of his three children, Cassandra Thorburn.

A few months after the split, he began dating former-model-turned-shoe-designer Jasmine Yarbrough, who is nine years his junior. They got engaged in January 2018.

Toxic brand? A devoted family man with a fondness for cringeworthy ‘dad jokes’, Channel Nine’s golden boy was a favourite to replace Tracy Grimshaw as host of A Current Affair. But in the seven years since winning big at the Logies in 2011, the TV star’s reputation has dwindled. Pictured in Melbourne on April 15 2012

Cassandra was apparently blindsided when Karl packed his bags and left, admitting last month that if it wasn’t for her ‘resilience and strength’, her family would have buckled under the weight of the trauma. 

The start of the Today show’s downward spiral can be traced back to September 2016, when it emerged Karl, 44, had separated from his wife and the mother of his three children, Cassandra Thorburn (left). Pictured on October 16, 2008 in Sydney 

For his part, Karl believes he has nothing to apologise for.

‘I’m in love and I’m sorry if that causes anyone hurt. But I won’t be apologising to my nearest and dearest because I don’t need to,’ he said in June.

In the months following his split with Cassandra, market research by Channel Nine reportedly showed that Karl’s popularity with female viewers was plummeting.

Entertainment journalist Peter Ford said last year: ‘The Today show ratings are bad. At the moment they’ve done private market research at Nine into Karl and it’s coming up that women have turned on him.’

Later, radio personality Jackie ‘O’ Henderson summed up how many female viewers felt about Karl. 

She said: ‘This is what a lot of women would think: this is a lovely lady that stood by him for years, they have a family and they see him leave her. They think, “That could happen to me”.’

Today’s ratings have been declining steadily since Karl began dating Jasmine in late 2016, recently hitting a humiliating 10-year low.

Meanwhile, Channel Seven’s Sunrise continues to dominate the market and the gap between the rival breakfast shows widens. 

‘Put in Ben Fordham and Sylvia Jeffreys’: As Karl’s popularity falls, viewers have been calling for a new lineup on social media in recent months

Breakfast TV war: Today’s ratings have been declining since Karl began dating former model Jasmine Yarbrough in late 2016, recently hitting a humiliating 10-year low. Meanwhile, Channel Seven’s Sunrise continues to dominate and the gap between the rival breakfast shows widens. Pictured: Sunrise hosts Samantha Armytage (left) and David ‘Kochie’ Koch (right)

While it has been speculated that Karl will be replaced as host of the Today show by Ben Fordham in 2019 due to low ratings, Channel Nine is yet to confirm this. 

Viewers have also been calling for a new lineup on social media in recent months.

‘Get rid of them both [Karl and Georgie Gardner]. Put in Ben Fordham and Sylvia Jeffreys,’ one Facebook user wrote recently.

Another commented: ‘Karl Stefanovic is the worst Today show commentator. He is full of himself and behaves like a giggling schoolboy. Get rid of him – surely there must be better presenters?’ 

New lineup? While it has been speculated that Karl will be replaced as host of the Today show by Ben Fordham (left) in 2019 due to low ratings, Channel Nine is yet to confirm this. Pictured with co-anchor Georgie Gardner (right)

‘Ben’s better than Karl and very funny’: When Ben filled in for Karl earlier this year during one of his many absences, not only was there a slight ratings boost but fans welcomed the change

When Ben filled in for Karl earlier this year during one of his many absences, not only was there a slight ratings boost but fans also welcomed the change.

‘Today has been so good without Karl. But I will go back to Sunrise when the boof head [sic] comes back,’ one viewer wrote.

Similar comments included: ‘Ben’s better than Karl and very funny. Hope Karl has a long holiday,’ and, ‘I watched the show today [for the] first time in a long time. Only watched because Karl was not presenting.’

Echoing the sentiments of many, another viewer wrote on Facebook: ‘Team Ben and Georgie! I wake up with both of them on the Today show.’

New flame: A few months after splitting with his wife, Karl began dating Jasmine Yarbrough (right), who is nine years his junior. They got engaged in January 2018. Media experts believe this relationship has resulted in female viewers turning their backs on Karl. Pictured on April 4

Of course, Karl’s personal life isn’t the only reason for his diminishing popularity.

He found himself at the centre of a gender pay gap controversy in October last year when his co-host Lisa Wilkinson resigned after management refused to pay her the same salary as Karl.

Channel Nine CEO Hugh Marks said at the time that Karl was paid more because he had more responsibilities at the network, including his prime time show This Time Next Year, and because Lisa had several commercial agreements outside Nine.

No equal pay? Of course, Karl’s personal life isn’t the only reason for his diminishing popularity. He found himself at the centre of a gender pay gap controversy in October last year when his co-host Lisa Wilkinson resigned after management refused to pay her the same salary as Karl

The former magazine editor subsequently signed a lucrative deal with Network Ten and began hosting The Sunday Project.

Behind-the-scene tensions with Lisa’s replacement, veteran journalist Georgie Gardner, also didn’t help Karl’s public image at the start of 2018.

The animosity between the two presenters reached an apex when the so-called ‘Ubergate’ scandal made headlines.  

Karl had been ‘overheard’ by an Uber driver complaining about Georgie and other colleagues, and the details of his private conversation were leaked to New Idea.

According to the magazine, he had criticised his female co-anchor for ‘sitting on the fence’ and not having enough opinions.

When New Idea hit newsstands on Monday 19 March, Georgie branded Karl ‘pathetic’ on air, supposedly referring to his phobia of dachshunds. However, it was abundantly clear to viewers what she was really referring to.

Not friends: Behind-the-scene tensions with Lisa’s replacement, veteran journalist Georgie Gardner (right), also didn’t help Karl’s public image at the start of 2018. Pictured: Georgie rolling her eyes at Karl at the 2018 Logies while being interviewed by Sonia Kruger (left)

So, what does the future hold for Karl Stefanovic? 

It’s quite possible that his upcoming wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough will be a much-needed PR boost for the embattled star. 

The couple will marry in a picturesque chapel at the One&Only Palmilla Resort in San Jòse del Cabo, Mexico on December 8.

Among those on the guest list include Jasmine’s Mara and Mine business partner Tamie Ingham and her sister Katie, James Packer and his girlfriend Kylie Lim, Richard Wilkins and his girlfriend Virginia Burmeister, and Karl’s manager Sharon Finnigan.

However, the absence of Karl’s  19-year-old son Jackson from the ceremony (it is understood they are estranged following his divorce from Cassandra) may cast a long shadow over the proceedings.

So, what does the future hold for Karl Stefanovic? It’s quite possible his upcoming wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough will be a much-needed PR boost for the embattled star. Pictured: The chapel at the One&Only Palmilla Resort in San Jòse del Cabo, Mexico, where Karl and Jasmine will exchange vows on December 8