Karl Stefanovic reportedly dumped from Nine’s Today show after Tommy Robinson interview
Nine has reportedly parted ways with long-time Today show host Karl Stefanovic following high-profile crisis talks sparked by his controversial podcast interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson.
Senior executives met behind closed doors at the network’s North Sydney headquarters on Wednesday to discuss Stefanovic’s future after concerns grew about his increasingly outspoken independent content, according to reports. Nine hours later published an article saying Stefanovic was ready to leave the channel, paving the way for a major change in breakfast television.
It is expected that the decision to sever ties will be made official after meetings with the presenter, who is currently in London on leave.
According to reports, Stefanovic’s $3 million contract states that he must not damage Channel 9’s reputation.
The events center on an episode of Stefanovic’s podcast released earlier this week, in which he appeared alongside anti-immigration activist Robinson in an episode that drew harsh criticism.
Stefanovic said he admired Robinson’s “perseverance” and “courage”.
In its strongest statement about Stefanovic’s contentious foray into podcasting, Nine said on Wednesday morning that his latest episode was being taken “seriously”.
“The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production,” a Nine spokesperson told The Nightly.
“Nine has no involvement in guest selection and other editorial processes.
“But Granny is taking this matter seriously.”
The scrutiny intensified even more when the full interview was published. Stefanovic faced backlash for not opposing Robinson’s views and instead praising him for speaking out. The segment was widely criticized for lacking balance and rigor.
Although Nine has sought to distance itself from Stefanovic’s podcast since its launch in January, recent controversy has raised fears of reputational damage and possible commercial consequences, including advertiser concerns and shareholder complaints.
Stefanovic later removed the interview from social media platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, Instagram and Apple Podcasts, within hours of it going live. Although the decision was made after discussions with network administrators, it appears that he was not explicitly instructed to remove it.
The deletion did little to calm the situation. The interview quickly resurfaced online after being reposted by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who shared the entire 55-minute video with the caption “CANCELLED: Full Karl Stefanovic and Tommy Robinson Interview.”
Hanson also claimed that the channel tried to oust Stefanovic over the controversy. He used the opportunity to criticize Nine and Stefanovic’s colleagues, including Deborah Knight, citing the channel’s unsuccessful 2019 breakfast show overhaul.
“Deb Knight was a huge flop for Channel 9 and while she was busy grilling me about One Nation’s poll Channel 9’s ratings were in the toilet,” a statement on Hanson’s YouTube account said.
“I spoke to him on live TV in 2019 calling Channel 9 to bring Karl back.
“With six months left on his contract, Channel 9’s poor management want to sack Karl over this interview. Tommy Robinson has a lesson for the Australians.”
“If we don’t learn from the UK’s mistakes on immigration and radical Islam, we face the same devastation. This is exactly what Karl was trying to bring to Australia’s attention.”
Hanson did not say how he obtained the interview after it was removed or whether Stefanovic gave permission for the interview to be rebroadcast.
One of Nine’s most recognizable faces, Stefanovic has been on the channel for more than two decades.
The latest in the Stefanovic saga comes just hours after the Today presenter uploaded a new episode of The Karl Stefanovic Show featuring former Australian soap star-turned-right-wing mouthpiece Holly Valance.
In the interview, UK-based Valance, whose real name is Holly Vukadinovic, reiterated Robinson’s support for One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
He also compared Great Britain’s immigration problems to Australia’s.
“Yes, it’s very welcoming to people, but unfortunately it’s going to go up all our asses in Australia,” the Nine star told Stefanovic.
“You can see the signs now, which is that there are people like Pauline who are desperately trying to put on the brakes and change things.
“I’m really behind her. I think she’s amazing.”
Valance was also photographed with Robinson several times.
When asked about Stefanovic’s views, 43-year-old Valance replied: “I’m saving that for the white supremacy marches on the weekend.” this was likely a reference to his appearance alongside the right-wing firebrand at the Unite the Kingdom demonstration in London last September.
She was also photographed on a luxury steam train trip with Robinson in 2025.
