His co-host Lisa Wilkinson announced her shock departure from Today on Monday morning, amid reports of a pay dispute.
And on Tuesday morning, Karl Stefanovic tried his best to show it was business as usual on Today, reading out the day’s newspaper’s headlines alongside fill-in host Deborah Knight.
But things soon got awkward as the majority of front pages dealt with Lisa’s departure from Today, with Karl and Deborah appearing visibly uncomfortable.
On Monday night, Lisa confirmed she had left Today after a decade at the helm, defecting to Network 10’s The Projects.
The Daily Telegraph has alleged the veteran journalist walked after Nine refused to pay Lisa the same as Karl.
On Tuesday morning, Karl and Deborah, read through a series of newspaper front pages featuring Lisa Wilkinson, with headlines such as ‘I Break Up With Today’ and ‘Lisa Switches The Channel’.
Awkward: On Tuesday morning, Karl and Deborah, read through a series of newspaper front pages featuring Lisa Wilkinson, with headlines such as ‘I Break Up With Today’
They are the headlines: But things soon got awkward as the majority of front pages dealt with Lisa’s departure from Today, with Karl and Deborah appearing visibly uncomfortable
‘As I said before it all came as a bit of a shock to us yesterday,’ Karl said.
‘We will be chatting a little bit more about that and a little bit more about our great friend later in the program.’
Later on, Karl bizarrely paid tribute to Lisa as a housewife, praising her for completing chores around the home before coming into the studio.
Praised her ability to ‘put the washing on’ before coming to work: Later on, Karl bizarrely paid tribute to Lisa as a housewife, praising her for completing chores around the home
‘For 10 years Lisa has dragged herself out of bed at 3.30 in morning, fed the dogs and cats, put a load of washing on and came into work and sat on my left to inform you at home to what’s happening in the world,’ he said.
Meanwhile Karl refused to comment on Lisa’s departure last night as appeared to check into a room at the Sydney Intercontinental Hotel, where accommodation can cost more than $5000 a night.
By his side was model girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough, who Karl began dating following his high profile split from wife of 21 years Cassandra Thorburn last year.
Negotiations broke down: The Daily Telegraph has alleged the veteran journalist walked after Nine refused to pay Lisa the same as Karl
Bad publicity: Entertainment reporter Peter Ford revealed market research showed Lisa Wilkinson had been ‘carrying the show’ amid bad publicity due to Karl’s new relationship
Speaking to the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday, entertainment reporter Peter Ford claimed Lisa’s demand for more money had been sparked by secret market research, which revealed she was ‘carrying’ the show.
‘What the management at Nine didn’t know was that she’d seen some secret market research done by the network itself which indicated she was the strength on that show, she was the magnet,’ he said.
‘Karl had become at different times and it might have subsided now but earlier in the year he’d become a bit of a turn off for women and she was keeping it all together and basically carrying him.’
Today has also suffered declining ratings in the wake of Karl’s marriage breakdown, with audience numbers decreasing in 2017.
Turning off viewers? Today has also suffered declining ratings in the wake of Karl’s marriage breakdown, with audience numbers decreasing in 2017