She’s become the face of women’s empowerment in Australia, following her shock resignation from the Today show last month over an equal pay dispute.
And Lisa Wilkinson tweeted her support for her Today show replacement, Georgie Gardner, on Thursday.
The 57-year-old had only kind words for her former Channel colleague, shortly after it was announced that Georgie, 47, would be filling her shoes.
Congratulations! Lisa Wilkinson tweeted her support for her Today show replacement, Georgie Gardner, on Thursday
Kind words: The 57-year-old had only kind words for her former Channel colleague, shortly after it was announced that Georgie, 47, would be filling her shoes
‘Warmest congratulations to my friend @GeorgieG who has just been announced as the new co-host of @TheTodayShow. She will nail it. #9today,’ Lisa wrote on Twitter.
Fans swiftly hailed the veteran TV presenter for what many deemed to be a ‘classy’ response to the news.
‘Well done for being magnanimous Lisa. It’s good to see not all women attack others over success xx,’ one wrote.
Out: Lisa abruptly quit the Today show in October after ten years, over an equal pay dispute. It was claimed that her co-host Karl Stefanovic was earning more money for doing the same work
‘Way to be classy, Lisa. Nice work,’ another tweet read.
One fan observed: ‘You’re so lovely Lisa. You’ve always been supportive of others. Still, we miss you on The Today Show. [It] will never be the same.’
Also on Thursday, Georgie revealed she and Lisa exchanged text messages before the announcement was made.
Polite exchange: Also on Thursday, Georgie revealed she and Lisa exchanged text messages before the announcement was made
‘I have spoken to [Lisa] and I sent her a message just before it was announced to tell her how excited I am and she and I now have this unique experience that we can share together,’ she told Fitzy and Wippa.
‘And once you’re part of the Today show family, it’s forever – there’s always a place at the table at the Today show and she has left an indelible mark on the Today show landscape and I just adore her.’
It comes after Lisa spoke about the immense impact that her departure has had on women across Australia.
‘You can see women have had enough,’ she recently told News.com.au.
‘Women have had enough’: Lisa Wilkinson opens up on the big issue that led to her departure from the Today show
‘The gender pay gap, domestic violence, homelessness is on a huge rise in this country, particularly for women over 50.’
She said she believes women are beginning to feel ‘the wind behind them’ off the back of power moves, arguably like her own.
Following her departure from Nine Network, reports suggested she left after her demands for pay parity with co-host Karl Stefanovic were not met.
The veteran journalist was reportedly fed up with her rumoured $1.1 million annual salary compared to her male co-host Karl Stefanovic’s reported $2million income.
Speaking out: ‘Women have had enough — the gender pay gap, domestic violence, homelessness is on a huge rise in this country, particularly for women over 50,’ Lisa said
Power shift: The former Today show host said she believes women are beginning to feel ‘the wind behind them’ off the back of power moves, arguably like her own
Fed up: Her comments follow her sensational defection to Network Ten after her alleged demands for pay parity with co-host Karl Stefanovic were not met by the Nine Network
Since quitting, Lisa has been enjoying some time off before going back to work on Channel Ten’s The Project in January 2018.
She said she is enjoying sleeping in after ditching the 3.30am starts she’s been doing for a decade.
‘It’s heavenly, I’ve discovered I love sleep, I never had a problem sleeping and I’m just getting a lot more these days and it feels great,’ she said.
Earlier this month, former My Kitchen Rules star Ash Pollard hinted to Yahoo Be that she could be replacing Lisa.
‘I can neither confirm or deny what will happen in the future,’ she teased – adding that she would ‘of course’ consider the opportunity.
However a spokesperson for Channel Nine told Daily Mail Australia that Ash had not been approached for the gig.