Lisa Wilkinson reveals the ‘shocking’ way she learned her Today co-host Karl Stefanovic had split from his wife Cassandra Thorburn in 2016
Lisa Wilkinson has lifted the lid on her former co-host Karl Stefanovic’s split from his ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn in her new autobiography, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Like This.
In an excerpt from the tell-all book, the 61-year-old admitted she was ‘shocked’ when Cassandra sent her a text message informing her Karl had left their family home in 2016.
‘They had just bought a waterfront property a month or two before and he had just signed a massive deal with the network. I presumed everything was great,’ Lisa wrote.
Candid: Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) has admitted she was ‘shocked’ to learn her co-host Karl Stefanovic had split from his ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn
Lisa said she ‘gasped’ when she received a message from Cassandra informing her the pair had separated after 21 years of marriage.
‘Cass wanted to let me know that Karl had moved out a few weeks before.’
‘She was worried he hadn’t yet told me and didn’t want me mentioning anything on air about them that might make things uncomfortable.’
Shock: In an excerpt from the tell-all book, Lisa admitted she was ‘shocked’ when Cassandra (right) sent her a text message informing her Karl (left) had left their family home in 2016
Karl and Cassandra, who share three children, Jackson, 20, Ava, 15, and River, 13, parted ways in 2016 and divorced in 2019 after 21 years of marriage.
It’s rumoured the former TV producer and mother of three walked away with about $6million in assets and cash.
Karl is now happily married to shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough and the couple share a daughter, Harper, one.
‘She was worried he hadn’t yet told me and didn’t want me mentioning anything on air about them that might make things uncomfortable,’ Lisa said
Lisa’s book also includes a chapter dedicated to her sacking from Channel Nine and eventual falling out with former co-star Karl over a pay dispute.
Lisa left Nine’s Today show back in October 2017 after a reported gender pay gap dispute.
The Nine Network were ‘unable to meet her expectations’ after she demanded equal pay with co-host Karl.
In January the following year, Lisa joined rival network Ten’s The Project for a rumoured multi-million dollar pay packet.
Happy man: Karl is now happily married to shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough (right) and the couple share a daughter, Harper, one
Book: Lisa’s book also includes a chapter dedicated to her sacking from Channel Nine and eventual falling out with former co-star Karl over a pay dispute