She’s the outspoken media personality whose abrupt departure from Studio 10 sent shock waves through the Australian media industry earlier this month.
And Jessica Rowe has slammed brothers Karl and Peter Stefanovic, over their leaked Uber phone call about Today co-host Georgie Gardner.
The 47-year-old appeared on Studio 10 on Monday, where she defended her ‘dear friend’ Georgie after it was revealed Karl criticised his Channel Nine co-host during the explosive phone chat.
Weighing in: Jessica Rowe has slammed brothers Karl and Peter Stefanovic, over their leaked Uber phone call about Today co-host Georgie Gardner
‘I suppose because Georgie’s one of my dearest friends, no the phone call shouldn’t have been recorded,’ she said.
‘But I don’t think these two [Karl and Peter] are victims. I think If you have nothing nice to say about someone, do it behind closed doors. Do not do it on speakerphone where people are listening.
She added: ‘Georgie is an incredible journalist, she is not neutral about anything, she’s strong, she’s committed, she’s passionate. I’m sick of blokes saying negative things about women.’
![Defending Georgie: Jessica said 'I don't think these two [Karl and Peter Stefanovic] are victims. I think If you have nothing nice to say about someone, do it behind closed doors. Do not do it on speakerphone where people are listening'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/19/01/4A19F52F00000578-5516719-image-a-13_1521424067106.jpg)
Defending Georgie: Jessica said ‘I don’t think these two [Karl and Peter Stefanovic] are victims. I think If you have nothing nice to say about someone, do it behind closed doors. Do not do it on speakerphone where people are listening’
According to New Idea this week, Karl was heard ‘angrily’ complaining about Lisa Wilkinson’s replacement, Georgie, during a ‘b*tchy’ conversation with Peter.
Last week, a source close to Karl’s team told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Karl is heading to court over the leaked Uber tape.’
‘The Nine frontman will issue legal proceedings against the global rider-share scheme.’
High praise: ‘Georgie is an incredible journalist, she is not neutral about anything, she’s strong, she’s committed, she’s passionate. I’m sick of blokes saying negative things about women,’ Jessica said. She is pictured with Georgie (L) at the ‘Women and Freedom’ Photographic Exhibition and Auction on July 29, 2004 at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, in Sydney
A Nine spokeswoman reportedly confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that the Stefanovics will not have to offer a ‘sincere formal ‘apology to Georgie for what was said.
The siblings allegedly spoke about Nine News and Current Affairs head honcho Darren Wick, Today’s Mark Calvert and 60 Minutes’ Kirsty Thomson during their chat, which took place when Peter was in an Uber and speaking to his brother Karl on loudspeaker.
Jessica’s appearance on Studio 10 comes nearly two weeks after her abrupt departure from the Channel Ten show on March 9.
Out: Jessica’s appearance on Studio 10 comes nearly two weeks after her abrupt departure from the Channel Ten show on March 9
It was recently claimed that network executives were gearing up to axe her as part of drastic cost-cutting measures however a rep denied the report.
An Insider told The Sunday Telegraph that the embattled network, which went into voluntary administration last year, wanted to reduce costs by up to $500,000 a year.
‘There was a plan in place to eliminate one presenter and the decision was made it would be Jessica Rowe,’ an unnamed source said.
New addition: The report comes just months after former Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson joined the network with a rumoured $2 million pay packet
‘The writing has been on the wall for a long time.’
Jessica first joined Studio 10 back in 2013.
In a previous statement to Daily Mail Australia, a Channel Ten spokesperson dismissed the report as ‘total fiction.’
‘The story is completely false. It is total fiction. Jessica Rowe resigned,’ they said.
The report comes just months after former Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson joined the network with a rumoured $2 million pay packet.
See you in court! Channel Ten has slammed a ‘spiteful’ former Studio 10 producer who claimed the network ‘wanted to fire Jessica for a year’
Accomplished: Jessica is an accomplished media personality and has graced TV screens for more than 20 years
Jessica is an accomplished media personality and has graced TV screens for more than 20 years.
She was a co-host of Channel Ten’s evening news, before defecting to Nine in 2006, where she briefly appeared alongside Karl as host of the Today show.
Jessica previously made clear that Channel Ten had been ‘nothing but supportive’ of her decision.
Shock resignation: On March 9. Jessica Rowe shocked the nation by announcing she was leaving Studio 10 live on air. She has claimed Channel Ten was ‘nothing but supportive’ of her decision