Mamamia founder Mia Freedman calls out Karl Stefanovic for No Filter podcast snub after they were ‘friends’ for years at Channel Nine

Media personality Mia Freedman has taken a swipe at Karl Stefanovic for refusing to appear on her No Filter podcast despite being friends with the Today host when she worked at Channel Nine. 

Freedman, who is the co-founder of women’s lifestyle website Mamamia, lashed out at her former friend, 49, via Instagram Stories on Tuesday when she uploaded  a photo of herself watching Stefanovic host the Today show. 

Tagging Stefanovic’s official Instagram account, the 51-year-old wrote: ‘Hey [Stefanovic] why won’t you come on No Filter?’

In a second post, she uploaded a candid photo of Stefanovic presumably taken by Freedman during a stroll by the water. 

‘My dude. You interview people for your job. You’re waaaay better at it than me. You’ve interviewed me for years when I was on [Today],’ she wrote. 

‘I was at your 40th! We were friends,’ Freedman added. 

However, Stefanovic could make a compelling argument as to why he’d never sit down for an interview with Freedman, given her close friendship with his former Today co-host turned rival Lisa Wilkinson.

Freedman and Wilkinson have maintained a personal and professional relationship for over three decades. 

She uploaded this candid photo of Stefanovic presumably taken by Freedman, adding the caption:  ‘My dude. You interview people for your job. You’re waaaay better at it than me. You’ve interviewed me for years when I was on [Today]’ 

When she was 19, Freedman was hired by Wilkinson as an intern at Dolly magazine.

Freedman rose quickly through the ranks to become a fashion editor at the title before

Wilkinson has even appeared on Freedman’s podcast in the past, having discussed Stefanovic’s messy divorce from wife Cassandra Thorburn in an episode of No Filter back in November 2016.

However, Stefanovic could make a compelling argument as to why he’d never sit down for an interview with Freedman (right), given her close friendship with his rival Lisa Wilkinson (left) 

Meanwhile, Stefanovic hosted the Today show for a decade alongside Wilkinson prior to her shock departure in 2017 amid a pay equality dispute.

The incident is said to have sparked a long-running feud between Wilkinson and Stefanovic.  

The pair’s rift escalated in 2021 when Wilkinson released her memoir, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Like This, which contained details about her final months hosting Today. 

Freedman and Wilkinson have maintained a close personal and professional relationship over the years

In the book, she claimed the pay disparity between herself and Stefanovic was once ‘so off the charts that no-one would have believed it’.

However, it was later reported that she had actually earned more than Karl for years at the start of their on-air partnership, and it wasn’t until Seven tried to poach Karl that he was able to negotiate the bigger salary.

Lisa failed to mention this important detail in her memoir, instead focusing on the pay disparity during her later years at the helm of Today.

Stefanovic and hosted the Today show for a decade alongside Wilkinson prior to her shock departure in 2017 amid a pay equality dispute

Wilkinson has even appeared on Freedman’s podcast in the past, having discussed Stefanovic’s messy divorce from wife Cassandra Thorburn (right) in an episode of No Filter back in November 2016

Wilkinson also wrote of the controversy surrounding Stefanovic’s personal life, describing her reaction to learning that her former colleague had found new love with Jasmine Stefanovic just months after his highly-publicised marriage breakdown. 

Freedman previously worked alongside Stefanovic at Nine after she was hired by the company to host chatshow The Catch-Up in 2007, as well as serving as a regular commentator on the Today show. 

The Catch-Up was a ratings failure, and Freedman left Nine after just one year.  

The former co-hosts’ rift escalated in 2021 when Wilkinson released her memoir, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Like This, which contained details about her final months hosting Today

Freedman previously worked alongside Stefanovic at Nine after she was hired by the company to host chatshow The Catch-Up in 2007, as well as serving as a regular presenter on the Today show. Pictured with former Today host Georgie Gardner