Updated ,first published
Billionaire business mogul James Packer has defended his friend Karl Stefanovic over a controversial podcast interview which triggered the long-time presenter’s explosive exit from the Today show.
“I didn’t think it was that bad,” said Packer, the former owner of Nine, of the Gold Logie winner’s hour-long discussion with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson, which has since been deleted.
Packer, who sold his controlling stake in Nine to private equity in 2007, has been friends with Stefanovic for more than a decade. The television star stayed at Packer’s multimillion-dollar Bondi apartment following his separation from his former wife in 2016 and has spent time on his luxury yacht, IJE.
Asked what he thought of Nine’s decision to part ways with Stefanovic over the Robinson podcast, Packer replied: “In my time at Nine and certainly at the Nine newspapers, the old Fairfax newspapers, there’s always been editorial independence.
“I think it’s pretty hypocritical not to allow Karl editorial independence, especially on something I didn’t think was that bad.”
Nine executives spent much of Thursday finalising the terms of Stefanovic’s departure, which will bring to an end his near two-decade run hosting Today.
Management resolved on Wednesday afternoon that its highest-paid star had to go, but has since been locked in negotiations with Stefanovic, who has been in London while on leave from the Today show, and his legal representatives over the terms of the separation.
Sources familiar with the talks said the company planned to make no payout to Stefanovic to end his contract, and were confident he would not return to its screens. When the talks conclude, the sources said Nine planned to issue a statement emphasising Stefanovic’s departure was the result of cumulative problems caused by his podcast, rather than free speech issues.
Stefanovic’s interview with Robinson went live on Tuesday afternoon but was removed from YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Instagram less than 12 hours later.
Nine and other critics of Stefanovic are likely to dispute Packer’s assessment of the interview with Robinson. The Today host did not interrogate any of Robinson’s claims, but instead told him he admired his “tenacity” and “courage” in “trying to stand up for what you believe is right” in a jovial conversation lasting almost an hour.
In a preview video, Stefanovic also threw his arm around Robinson and called outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer a “wanker”.
The production infuriated senior Nine executives, who were blindsided by Stefanovic’s choice of interview subject and stunned by the way the Nine host embraced him on video.
Stefanovic recorded an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan in London but this masthead has been told he may now be in the French resort city of Cannes.
Morgan last month said of Robinson: “When he’s not calling me a giant sausage, all he does on social media is bash Islam and Muslims. That’s his schtick.”
Several years earlier, Morgan told Robinson in an interview to “show some damn respect” for people’s religious beliefs and warned he sounded like a “bigoted lunatic”.
“You are stirring up hatred, you are abusing people’s religion, you are abusing their faith, and you are being a complete disgrace.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Stefanovic pulled out of his scheduled appearance on his new radio show with Eddie McGuire on Friday.
Stefanovic and McGuire were supposed to host an episode of their show The Long Weekend, which was to stream on radio station Gold and Nine’s platforms.
Sources familiar with the matter said there were conversations between Stefanovic and ARN about his future with the radio network, which settled its lawsuit with former host Kyle Sandilands this month.
McGuire will front the show on Friday alone. Asked whether Stefanovic would join him, McGuire said he was “still not sure” but “probably not at this stage”.
“I’m trying to get to the bottom of things myself.”
Nine agreed to allow Stefanovic to pursue the independent podcast as part of a deal to cut his pay going into 2026. He reportedly still earned more than $2 million a year from the network.
While the Robinson podcast triggered this week’s blow-up, Nine officials had become tired of Stefanovic’s behaviour since he launched the podcast in January.
Stefanovic’s apology in March for taking part in Nine’s COVID-19 vaccine campaign angered management, as did his interview with controversial former television chef Pete Evans. In that episode, Stefanovic said mainstream media would “never do this interview” because it was “too soft”.
He was also photographed last month wearing a cap with the words “Zero f—s”, and issued an abusive statement to the ABC’s Media Watch program, which was exploring the media’s sometimes-cosy relationship with controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo. “Charlie Teo is a great f—ing Australian,” Stefanovic told the program. “Leave him the f— alone.”
His departure defuses a potential advertising boycott, which could have damaged the lucrative breakfast television market.
The activist group Mad F—ing Witches was preparing to launch a campaign tentatively titled #KancelKarl. The same group successfully applied pressure on Nine over broadcaster Alan Jones, and on ARN over the future of former FM host Kyle Sandilands.
But Stefanovic’s demise at Nine risks morphing into a broader rally cry from his supporters about free speech, and could help boost interest in his fledgling podcast.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan said journalists should “not lose their jobs for talking to someone”.
“Reports of Karl’s sacking, if true, are a win for the thought police,” he said.
2GB host Ben Fordham, a long-time employee of Nine until the company’s radio network was sold to the billionaire Laundy family last month, told listeners he thought Stefanovic’s departure was unwarranted.
“Why are they sacking him?” Fordham said. “Is it because activists threatened an advertising boycott of the Today show? Is it because the bosses at Nine believe that Karl did not ask Tommy Robinson any tough questions? Or are they sick of seeing Karl’s podcast doing well while their Today show is routinely thrashed in the ratings?”
But former Nationals leader David Littleproud played down the implications for free speech, suggesting the presenter’s contract would have had provisions around acceptable behaviour outside work.
Asked about the saga, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “You go down that road and you get further and further out on the edges of what is mainstream political debate in this country and … I think that that can have, you know, an impact.”
Stefanovic joined Today in 2005 alongside then co-host Tracy Grimshaw. He remained on the desk until 2018, when he stepped down amid poor ratings and intense media focus on his personal life. He returned to co-host in 2020.
The Today show did not address speculation around Stefanovic’s future during Thursday’s show.
Nine is the owner of this masthead.
Robinson is a former member of the fascist British National Party who co-founded the English Defence League, an anti-Islam movement that organised street demonstrations across Britain. He has twice been forced to cancel speaking tours of Australia after being denied a visa.
The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
Bevan Shields is a senior writer, and former editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
Nick Bonyhady is the business editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He is a former deputy federal editor, technology editor and industrial relations reporter.Connect via X or email.
