Lisa Wilkinson made a shock departure from Nine’s Today show on Monday.
And, despite the Network stating that it wished her well, some commentators claim its executives were keen to get her out of the building.
Appearing on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O on Tuesday entertainment journalist Peter Ford said: ‘They said they love Lisa but it didn’t stop them cancelling her swipe card at 5.05!’
‘Didn’t stop them cancelling her swipe card at 5.05!’ Claims arise that Lisa Wilkinson’s departure from Nine was tense
When Jackie then asked Peter what had happened he replied: ‘Everything just collapsed. What they didn’t realise is she had a Plan B.’
‘She wanted to be paid the same as Karl’ Lisa departed Nine’s Today show on Monday amid reports that contract negotiations had broken down. The 57-year-old was alleged to have demanded equal pay with co-host as she was being paid close to half of his salary
‘She wanted to be paid the same as Karl,’ he continued.
‘Now it gets complicated because Karl did his contract a couple of years ago when he has a rock solid offer from the Channel Seven Network.’
Lisa departed Nine’s Today show on Monday amid reports that contract negotiations had broken down. The 57-year-old was alleged to have demanded equal pay with co-host as she was being paid close to half of his salary.
‘Everything just collapsed. What they didn’t realise is she had a Plan B’ Entertainment journalist Peter Ford appeared on KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O on Tuesday with ‘insider knowledge’ on Lisa’s departure from Nine
The Daily Telegraph reports that Nine increased its offer to $1.8 million annual package but it was not enough to convince Lisa to stay.
Karl is reported to earn at least $2 million a year with a potential bonus that could take his salary to nearly $3 million if he hits ratings targets.
Peter believes Karl was in a better position to negotiate when he renewed his contract with Nine last year as ‘he didn’t have all this baggage of the marital thing.’
‘She was basically carrying him!’ Peter Ford claims that Lisa Wilkinson kept the Today show together after Karl Stefanovic’s much-publicised divorce
Referring to Karl’s much-publicised divorce from his wife of 21 years Cassandra Thorburn and subsequent relationship with Jamine Yarbrough, Peter said that Karl had become ‘a bit of a turn off for women.’
Peter said that Lisa ‘was keeping it all together’ and ‘basically carrying him [Karl]’ so found herself in a strong position to bargain for a better salary.
It’s a sentiment that was echoed by radio host Em Rusciano on Tuesday.
Speaking on The Em Rusciano Radio Show with Harley Breen, she said: ‘Lisa is loved by the female audience and has lifted Karl up as he became very unpopular with females after he divorce.
‘Lisa is valuable ointment to Karl and Channel 9 you have made a massive mistake.’
‘Lisa is valuable ointment to Karl and Channel 9 you have made a massive mistake’ Speaking on her radio show Em Rusciano said that the Today may suffer following Lisa’s departure because she ‘is loved by the female audience’