Karl Stefanovic’s 19-year-old son Jackson has hinted that relations between them are still strained – three months after the Channel Nine star married shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough in Mexico.
It was widely rumoured last year that father and son were ‘estranged’ amid Karl’s bitter divorce from his ex-wife, and Jackson’s mother, journalist Cassandra Thorburn.
And despite standing by his dad by flying to Los Cabos for his wedding in December (albeit for the reception only, he didn’t attend the ceremony), it seems Jackson is still struggling to come to terms with Karl’s decisions.
‘Despite what happened, he’s still my dad. I’ll leave it there for now’: Karl Stefanovic’s son Jackson, 19, has hinted their relationship is strained. Pictured: Jackson (right) with Karl (left) and Jasmine Yarbrough on December 2, 2018 at Los Angeles Airport
In an interview with Woman’s Day on Monday, the university student chose his words very carefully when asked about his father.
‘What’s done is done,’ he said when asked about Karl’s decision to leave Cassandra in 2016 after 21 years of marriage. ‘Despite what happened, he’s still my dad. I’ll leave it there for now – who knows what happens next.’
While this seems to suggest that Jackson’s relationship with Karl, 44, is on shaky ground, he had nothing but praise for his mother, Cassandra.
Speaking out: In an interview with Woman’s Day on Monday, Jackson chose his words very carefully when asked about his father. Meanwhile, he had nothing but praise for his mother, Cassandra Thorburn (left), who is now back in the spotlight on Dancing with the Stars
Jackson said: ‘My mother is the most extraordinary person, and what she has weathered in these past few years, no one deserves the backlash.
‘To watch my parents’ private lives play out so publicly was incredibly destructive for all of us – someone had to step up to protect her, and I knew that person was me.’
Tellingly, Jackson declined to answer questions about his father’s tarnished public image and career woes, instead choosing to discuss his mother – who is now back in the spotlight as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
He spoke warmly about her ‘remarkable courage’, but cheekily acknowledged that she isn’t exactly the world’s most accomplished dancer.
Divorce woes: It was widely rumoured last year that father and son were ‘estranged’ amid Karl’s bitter divorce from his ex-wife, and Jackson’s mother, journalist Cassandra Thorburn. Pictured: Karl and Cassandra in Melbourne on May 1, 2011
It comes after Jackson – who has two younger siblings, Ava, 13, and River, 12 – told Daily Mail Australia that he did not attend his father’s nuptials to Jasmine Yarbrough in Los Cabos, Mexico on December 8.
Despite flying overseas with Karl, 44, and Jasmine, 35, for the spectacular three-day wedding, he was not present at the ceremony itself.
‘I didn’t go to the ceremony, I went to say congratulations [to Karl and Jasmine] after they’d all left the chapel but it was a lot later,’ Jackson said on December 17.
Snubbed! It comes after Jackson told Daily Mail Australia that he did not attend his father’s nuptials to Jasmine Yarbrough in Los Cabos, Mexico on December 8. Pictured: Karl and Jasmine on their wedding day, flanked by bridesmaids and groomsmen
‘My brother and sister didn’t want to go, and I was not going to leave them on their own so I looked after them.
‘I figure at their age they may not have an understanding of watching a parent get re-married. They might not understand it’s just a parent moving on.’
Jackson also denied reports at the time that he and his English girlfriend Anna Blackwell had been kicked out of the wedding.
‘I left with my girlfriend and they said it was because we were too drunk which is just stupid,’ Jackson said. ‘We left because it was s**t.’
‘I went to say congratulations after they’d all left the chapel but it was a lot later’: Despite flying overseas with Karl and Jasmine for the spectacular three-day wedding, Jackson was not present at the ceremony itself. Pictured: The newlyweds at the beachside wedding reception
When asked about the wedding experience and the trip to Mexico, Jackson spoke of his time positively.
‘It was alright, I was pretty much just with my girlfriend the whole time just enjoying the country and not worrying about the wedding,’ he said.
However when it came to his relationship with his new stepmother, the teenager was reluctant to say too much.
‘She’s nice, yeah. I don’t really know what else I can say,’ he said.
Last year, several publications reported that Jackson was ‘estranged’ from his famous father – however, this does not appear to be entirely true.
Rumours of animosity intensified in April 2018 when Jackson changed his Instagram handle from ‘Jackson Stefanovic’ to ‘Jackson Thorburn’.