Karl Stefanovic jokes about ‘fake news’ on Today after Ubergate

Georgie Gardner returned to the Today show panel on Wednesday, a day after Channel Nine management reportedly sent her to cover the bushfires on the NSW south coast to ‘avoid any more tense discussions’ with Karl Stefanovic.

The breakfast show co-hosts seemed to be taking the first steps to repair their ‘frosty relationship’ after the Ubergate scandal – however, Karl did appear to take a swipe at the media’s coverage of the affair early in the program. 

Karl, 43, made a rather unusual joke about ‘fake news’ before 6am during a segment about fraudulent tickets being sold for Ed Sheeran concerts.

Back together! Georgie Gardner returned to the Today show panel on Wednesday, a day after Channel Nine management reportedly sent her to cover the bushfires on the NSW south coast to ‘avoid any more tense discussions’ with Karl Stefanovic following the Ubergate scandal

‘We don’t want to go to an Ed Sheeran concert with a fake ticket,’ he said. ‘(It’s) a bit like fake news.’

While it is unclear if Karl was making a thinly-veiled reference to media reports about his personal life and alleged ‘tensions’ at the Today show, the remark did appear rather out of context in the segment.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment. 

Sending a message to the media? Karl, 43, made a rather unusual joke about 'fake news' before 6am during a segment about fraudulent tickets being sold for Ed Sheeran concerts

Sending a message to the media? Karl, 43, made a rather unusual joke about ‘fake news’ before 6am during a segment about fraudulent tickets being sold for Ed Sheeran concerts

On Tuesday, in the wake of the Ubergate scandal, Georgie was noticeably absent from the news desk while reporting from Tathra, with Deborah Knight filling in as co-anchor. 

A Channel Nine spokesperson later denied this was a deliberate move to keep Karl and Georgie separate.

Georgie had called Karl ‘pathetic’ during a light-hearted segment about dachshunds on Monday, but it was clear to viewers that she wasn’t simply referring to Karl’s ‘fear’ of short-legged dogs. 

Her comments were made shortly after New Idea hit newsstands with a front-page exposé of Karl and Peter Stefanovic’s ‘b**chy’ leaked phone conversation. 

Fallout: On Tuesday, in the wake of the Ubergate scandal, Georgie was noticeably absent from the news desk while reporting from Tathra. A Channel Nine spokesperson later denied this was a deliberate move to keep Karl and Georgie separate

Fallout: On Tuesday, in the wake of the Ubergate scandal, Georgie was noticeably absent from the news desk while reporting from Tathra. A Channel Nine spokesperson later denied this was a deliberate move to keep Karl and Georgie separate

The brothers had discussed several of their Channel Nine colleagues, including Georgie, after an ‘intoxicated’ Peter called Karl on speakerphone during a recent Uber ride. 

The Uber driver apparently ‘overheard’ the discussion and later sold details of what was said to New Idea in a reported $50,000 deal. (He denied secretly recording the conversation). 

Karl had allegedly said that Georgie ‘didn’t have enough opinions’ and that she needed to ‘step up… if she wanted to stay on the show’. 

Tense: Georgie had called Karl 'pathetic' during a light-hearted segment about dachshunds on Monday, but it was clear  that she wasn't simply referring to Karl's 'fear' of short-legged dogs

Tense: Georgie had called Karl ‘pathetic’ during a light-hearted segment about dachshunds on Monday, but it was clear that she wasn’t simply referring to Karl’s ‘fear’ of short-legged dogs

Comments: Georgie's comments were made shortly after New Idea hit newsstands with a front-page exposé of Karl and Peter Stefanovic's 'b**chy' leaked phone conversation

Comments: Georgie’s comments were made shortly after New Idea hit newsstands with a front-page exposé of Karl and Peter Stefanovic’s ‘b**chy’ leaked phone conversation



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