Karl Stefanovic has hit out at the media scrutiny of the end of his 21-year marriage, protesting “I’m no Brad Pitt.”
The Today show co-host told the Sydney Morning Herald’s PS magazine that 20 paparazzi following him for three months was bad for his health and that of anyone associated with him.
“They are dangerous on the roads as well,” the daytime TV star said “Goes with the territory, I know, but it makes living hard.”
Stefanovic, who added that there had been “a lot of bull***” written about his personal relationships, separated from his wife Cassandra Thorburn late last year after 21 years together.
Numerous reports have credited Thorburn with being a driving force behind the TV star’s success and Thorburn herself posted on Facebook last October that Today’s ratings win in 2016 had taken “a huge toll on my family and I.”
“The suggestions, the story ideas, the constant counselling of questions for years,” she wrote after Channel 9 said that Today beat rival program Sunrise in 21 of the 35 ratings weeks last year.
“I’m giving myself a pat on the back tonight, as I know many people will also know how much effort I put into it.”
Just days before her post, Stefanovic had apparently slighted Thorburn on air. Co-host Lisa Wilkinson had asked viewers “how much to do you think your partner’s worth,” prompting Stefanovic to quip “heaps.”
In more recent weeks, Stefanovic has been in the headlines after being pictured with Jasmine Yarbrough, the model who’s rumoured to be his new girlfriend.