Karl Stefanovic has unleashed a tirade against his breakfast TV rivals Sunrise after Channel Seven announced its top talent would not be attending the Logie Awards.
It was reported on Monday that Seven stars including Samantha Armytage and David Koch would be skipping Sunday’s ceremony because the Logies had ‘lost relevance’.
Speaking on Wednesday’s Today show, Karl raged: ‘I hear our opposition isn’t coming this year. What, they’re too good to support the local industry?’
‘We don’t want you there!’ Karl Stefanovic unleashed on rivals Sunrise on Wednesday, accusing them of believing they are ‘too good to support the local industry’ by not attending the Logies
Karl, 43, continued: ‘[Are they too good] to support their own network colleagues who have been lucky enough to be nominated for their hard work?’
‘Well, we don’t want you there anyway. You’re all boring!’ he added, as co-anchor Georgie Gardner, 48, squirmed uncomfortably next to him.
Karl quickly added a dose of humour, mentioning that he nonetheless ‘quite liked’ Sunrise’s former weather presenter Grant Denyer.
Snubbed! It was reported on Monday that Seven stars including Samantha Armytage and David Koch would be skipping Sunday’s ceremony because the Logies had ‘lost relevance’
‘So, to hard-working men and women in the Australian TV industry, I want to say this this morning. The Today show supports you, the Today show loves you,’ he declared.
‘We look forward to celebrating with you. And celebrating… and celebrating, and celebrating all the way until our show starts!’
Karl’s emphasis on ‘celebrations’ was likely a reference to his notorious drunken TV performance the morning after the 2009 Logie Awards.
He’s not impressed! Speaking on Wednesday’s Today show, Karl raged: ‘I hear our opposition isn’t coming this year. What, they’re too good to support the local industry?’
During a live Today broadcast from Melbourne’s Crown Casino, he had giggled uncontrollably and slurred his speech.
His apparently intoxicated behaviour prompted a flood of emails from viewers.
He later apologised, saying: ‘It was a very big Logies night, probably too big. I didn’t feel drunk when I woke up the next morning otherwise I would not have gone on-air.
‘I like to think that I’m professional enough to have made that decision.
‘But clearly from the vision that I have seen, I wasn’t at my best and what I want to do is apologise to anyone out there who may have been offended by my behaviour.’
‘A Nine-biased event’: Earlier this week, a source told The Daily Telegraph that Channel Seven plans to keep its prominent on-air talent away from this year’s Logies.
Earlier this week, a source told The Daily Telegraph that Channel Seven plans to keep its prominent on-air talent away from this year’s Logies.
The insider described the annual awards ceremony as a ‘Nine-biased event’ that has ‘lost relevance’ in recent years.
A network spokesperson also told the publication that the Logies’ change of location, from Melbourne to the Gold Coast, ‘had made life difficult’.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Seven for comment.