Fresh twist in Nine’s Alex Cullen scandal as Adrian Portelli claims TV star asked for $50,000 to be donated to charity before he was stood down

The scandal engulfing Channel Nine star Alex Cullen over a $50,000 gift Adrian Portelli has taken yet another dramatic twist with the billionaire claiming the money was always meant for charity.  

In a bid to ditch his nickname ‘Lambo Guy’, Portelli offered the $50,000 cash prize to the first member of the TV media to use his new preferred nickname, ‘McLaren Man’.

When Cullen, 44, used the name live on the Today show, Portelli posted what appeared to be a bank transfer of $50,000 to the sport presenter.

Nine promptly suspended Cullen – who has not appeared on air since – and announced an investigation into the payment which it said was being returned.

But Portelli claimed on Tuesday that Cullen intended the money to be paid to charity all along and posted details of payments of $25,000 each made on his behalf to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA.

‘Alex Cullen… on behalf of you, mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA,’ Portelli wrote on Instagram. 

‘I’ve kept pretty quiet about what unfolded with Alex, but even before he’d heard from Ch9, we had a conversation where he expressed his desire to donate the money.

‘That speaks volumes about his character. Alex, you’re an absolute gentleman. 

Adria Portelli claimed on Tuesday that Nine’s Alex Cullen (above) intended the money to be paid to charity all along and posted details of payments of $25,000 each made on his behalf to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA

Adrian Portelli (above)

Adrian Portelli (above)

Adrian Portelli posted an image of a bank transfer (pictured) to his Instagram account

Adrian Portelli posted an image of a bank transfer (pictured) to his Instagram account

‘If Ch9 let you go (though I really hope they don’t!), I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you on something. True class, mate!’

Max Markson, who has been a leading PR agent for 50 years, said although it was ‘not normal’ behaviour for a presenter to accept cash to say something that was not part of their declared sponsorships, he believed Cullen had clearly been joking.

Mr Markson pointed out Today host Karl Stefanovic was in on the gag, smirking that Cullen got it correct by saying ‘McClaren Guy’ and that he might split the $50,000 with him.

‘I am sure they didn’t think they were going to get the $50,000 but then they got it and unfortunately Alex has been stood down for the moment, which is crazy,’ Mr Markson told Daily Mail Australia on Monday. 

‘He shouldn’t have taken the $50,000 obviously, but he’s given it back. I don’t think that’s the reason they did it, they did it as a joke, obviously.’

Mr Markson suggested Cullen might have been a victim of unfortunate timing.

‘It happened on Friday and he (Cullen) probably got the money late on Friday night,’ he said.

‘If he knew it was going to come he probably would have given it away to charity. I would not have thought he would have pocketed the money.’

Legendary publicist Max Markson (pictured left with US actor Charlie Sheen) said Cullen was clearly joking and did expect to receive the payment

Legendary publicist Max Markson (pictured left with US actor Charlie Sheen) said Cullen was clearly joking and did expect to receive the payment

Nine insiders told Daily Mail Australia that the stunt could have been beneficial for the network and Portelli, if Cullen had advised the promoter that, as a journalist, he was unable to accept any payment for making the comment on-air.

‘What Alex should have done is refuse to accept any money and told Portelli to donate it directly to a charity instead – that’s if he was going to get involved in the stunt at all,’ one network insider told Daily Mail Australia.

However, Mr Markson did not think it would do Cullen’s TV career any lasting damage.

‘Alex will get back on air within a week’s time, within days I would have thought,’ he said.

‘It’s not a major issue, it was a joke. It wasn’t just him, it was Stefanovic as well obviously just having a joke.’

Mr Markson said Portelli, who was called ‘Mr Lambo’ in 2022 after turning up in a yellow Lamborghini to bid for houses renovated on Nine show The Block, got great coverage for this latest stunt including the front page of a Sydney newspaper.

‘I think he’s got a great publicist, it’s not me, but he has a great publicist,’ Mr Markson said. ‘I know him.’

Although Mr Markson thought Portelli was genuinely fed up with his Lambo nickname he had found a great angle to get more publicity from it.

Cullen's last post on Instagram is a selfie of him giving a thumb's up outside the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne

Cullen’s last post on Instagram is a selfie of him giving a thumb’s up outside the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne

‘When you are on a roll when you’ve got the coverage you just keep marketing it, keep pushing it,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Cullen is receiving plenty of fan support on social media.

His last post on Instagram is a selfie of him giving a thumb’s up outside the Melbourne Rod Laver Arena where the Australian Open is being held with the simple caption ‘let’s go’.

‘You’re the best presenter, and that show will be nothing without you,’ reads the first comment.

‘Such a humble, lovely personality for morning TV. So sorry, mate, hope you’re ok x.’

‘I feel so sorry for you,’ another person wrote.

‘Just for record, I won’t be watching Chanel 9 anymore. I hope something better comes of this for you, you’re amazing, what a load BS by Channel 9.’

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