Lisa Wilkinson publisher demands memoir back over Karl Stefanovic pay claims

A damning article disputing one of Lisa Wilkinson’s most significant claims about her time on Today has allegedly sent publishers of her memoir ‘It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This’ into a major spin.

Well-placed sources claim Harper Collins Australia has sensationally demanded a preview copy of the memoir be returned by news.com.au following an article published on Tuesday. 

In the piece written by respected political journalist Samantha Maiden, unnamed sources at Channel Nine disputed Wilkinson’s claims that Stefanovic was ‘paid double’ what she earned.

In fact, they claim it was Wilkinson who was paid much more than Stefanovic for ‘many years’ after the pair first teamed up on Nine’s breakfast staple back in 2006.  

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‘(Stefanovic) was earning half what she was signed on for by then CEO Eddie Maguire and his ‘best mate’ Jeff Browne,’ the article said. 

‘News.com.au understands that when she first signed with Nine in 2006 she was earning more than $700,000. The fresh-faced Stefanovic, who had just returned from a reporting stint in Los Angeles earned less than half that amount for years as the TV couple co-hosted Nine’s breakfast TV program.’

It was only several years later that Stefanovic would negotiate his way into a now-infamous payrise that saw his salary explode to $2million a year.

But it seems the contrary claims about Wilkinson’s original Nine contract did not go down well with her book publishers, with one insider claiming news.com.au were ordered to return the company’s only preview copy of the tell-all tome.

‘They blew up and asked for their copy back,’ said an insider at the site.  

News.com.au editor Lisa Muxworthy declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.

A spokesperson for Harper Collins also declined to confirm the allegation.

Awkwardly, both news.com.au and Harper Collins are owned by News Corp Australia.

High-profile journalist Sam Maiden revealed how Wilkinson was originally paid much more than Stefanovic

Lisa Wilkinson has given her version of events surrounding her controversial departure from Channel NIne in her memoir It wasn’t meant to be like this

Meanwhile, talk has now turned to who of Sydney’s media and entertainment glitterati will come out in support of Wilkinson when her official book launch gets underway later this week.

Among those said to be confirmed to attend include Wilkinson’s good friend and The Project co-host, Hamish McDonald, as well as left wing media commentator, Mike Carlton and MammaMia founder, Mia Freedman.

Besties: Lisa Wilkinson and Mia Freedman have long been tight pals

Stefanovic hit the fairways for Celebrity Apprentice as debate swirled over his pay in comparison to Lisa while together on Today

Before the storm. Karl and Lisa at the height of their Today fame

Sources close to the magazine editor turned TV host suggest a few of Wilkinson’s old Nine colleagues may even attend.

It’s understood both Sylvia Jeffreys and Ben Fordham have remained on good terms with Wilkinson, despite her very public blow-ups with the network.

Amid the fallout from the book, Stefanovic was spotted playing golf with a host of other celebrities as part of filming for the new season of celebrity apprentice.