Karl Stefanovic has revealed he was blindsided by the media attention he received after separating from wife-of-21-years Cassandra Thorburn in 2016.
In a rare tell-all interview on Tuesday, the 43-year-old admitted he has been a ‘broken man’ for the past two years and has even considered quitting the Today show.
‘It’s complete bulls**t. Why am I of interest? I’m the world’s most boring f**king man,’ he told industry website TV Tonight.
‘I’ve been broken the last two years’: Karl Stefanovic has ‘100 per cent considered quitting the Today show’ over the media attention he received following his marriage breakdown in 2016
Karl’s marriage breakdown, his subsequent relationship with Jasmine Yarbrough and the ‘Ubergate’ scandal have generated countless negative headlines in recent months.
Reports that he commands a salary in excess of $2million dollars have also not helped his reputation, especially after Lisa Wilkinson’s departure from Channel Nine in 2017 put the spotlight on the gender pay gap.
The veteran journalist told TV Tonight that he didn’t understand the interest in his personal life, saying he simply spends his days walking to the shops in UGG boots or watching TV on the couch.
Candid confession: In a rare tell-all interview on Tuesday, the 43-year-old admitted he has been a ‘broken man’ for the past two years and has even considered quitting the Today show
Turbulent times: Karl’s marriage breakdown (left: with Cassandra in 2011), his subsequent relationship with Jasmine Yarbrough (right) and the ‘Ubergate’ scandal have generated countless negative headlines in recent months
Karl confessed that the backlash against him over the past two years has ‘100 per cent’ made him consider quitting the Today show.
‘I’ve been broken in the last two years, but you still have to come to work and do a breakfast show,’ he said.
‘I know there has been interest in my private life and I guess that comes with the territory… But it’s only going to get more intense for people and you have to decide if you want to stick it out in the job.’
Blindsided: Karl told TV Tonight he didn’t understand the interest in his personal life, saying he simply spends his days walking to the shops in UGG boots or watching TV on the couch
The embattled TV host added that if he was really a bad person, it would be evident by now due the amount of media attention he receives on a daily basis.
He said politicians and media personalities have to be prepared to effectively give up having a private life and it’s no use complaining because it only makes matters worse.
Last year, Karl acknowledged there could be some truth to reports that his split with Cassandra had resulted in female viewers abandoning the Today show.
Embattled: ‘I’ve been broken in the last two years, but you still have to come to work and do a breakfast show,’ Karl said. Pictured with Georgie Gardner on the Today show
‘The Today show ratings are bad… they’ve done private market research at Nine into Karl and it’s coming up that women have turned on him,’ entertainment journalist Peter Ford told The Kyle and Jackie O Show in April 2017.
Karl later told Stellar magazine: ‘I’ve never tried to be anything other than myself and I have to hope that the audience, and particularly females if that is true, that one day they’re OK and they come back and say, “I’m giving him another go.”‘
In his own interview with Kyle and Jackie O earlier this month, Karl was more defensive of his right to be happy with Jasmine.
‘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.
Image problems? Last year, Karl acknowledged there could be some truth to reports that his split with Cassandra had resulted in female viewers abandoning the Today show
He claimed the whole situation – especially the public’s fascination with his private life – had been ‘very difficult on everyone’.
Karl began dating Jasmine several months after the breakdown of his marriage to former journalist and TV producer Cassandra in 2016.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.
New start: Karl began dating shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough (right) several months after the breakdown of his marriage to former journalist and TV producer Cassandra Thorburn in 2016