Georgie Gardner has broken her silence on Karl Stefanovic’s axing from the Today show, saying it’s been a “challenging year”.
Nine Network announced Stefanovic was leaving the breakfast program on Wednesday after 14 years on the desk, amid rumours of a tense relationship with Gardner.
Not long after Gardner joined the program in January 2018, reports surfaced in The Daily Telegraph that she and Stefanovic did not get along and that she had been promised by producers that she would only have to work with him for a year before he was moved on to a different role at Nine.
Lo and behold, nearly a year later Stefanovic was axed.
Addressing the situation for the first time on Friday, Gardner posted a photo of the pair on her Instagram page with a message that praised her former co-host for his long tenure with the breakfast show, but stopped short of indicating they were friends.
“A very tough week, a challenging year,” she wrote. “Huge congratulations @karlstefanovic_ for a 14 yr tenure hosting one of TV’s most demanding gigs. You brought a new brand, straddling the serious stories along with endless laughs (see YouTube!) You taught me plenty, it was never boring.”
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Nine announced Stefanovic was leaving the Today show on Wednesday, just two days after his younger brother Peter Stefanovic revealed he was leaving the network altogether after an illustrious 15-year career as a host and foreign correspondent.
Stefanovic’s departure triggered a huge shake up to the Today desk, with reports that all roles except for Gardner’s are under review.
On Friday it was announced that entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins would be replaced by former Triple J newsreader Brook Boney, while Wilkins would shift to focus on Today Extra instead.
According to reports in news.com.au, sports presenter Tim Gilbert is also facing the chopping block and popular newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys, who is married to Peter Stefanovic, could be shifted out of Today and into a new role at the network.
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The drama kicked off while the older Stefanovic brother was away on his honeymoon after tying the knot with Jasmine Yarbrough in Mexico last week.
He said in a statement that it had been a “tough year” but he was thankful for his time on the show.
“For the last 14 years I’ve co-hosted the best show on television. I can’t thank Nine enough for the opportunity. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be good enough to host this grand show for so long,” he said.
“Thanks to our viewers mostly, you are what matters most. It’s been a tough time. Thanks for hanging in there. I look forward to seeing you in another capacity at this great Network soon.”
Stefanovic’s personal life has plagued headlines over the past two years since he announced his split from his wife Cassandra Thorburn and struck up a relationship with Yarbrough, who is 10 years his junior.
In March, an Uber driver sold details of a conversation the Stefanovic brothers had in his car in which the younger complained about his bosses at 60 Minutes and the now-former Today host accused Gardner of “sitting on the fence” on too many stories.
Backlash against the story saw Stefanovic’s popularity dwindle with Today viewers.
Nine is expected to make further announcements about Today’s line up in the coming weeks.