Business as usual as Today show stars remain quiet over Karl Stefanovic exit after petition to 'save' the Nine presenter's job gains traction

Today show stars stayed mum on Thursday morning following the sudden resignation of their colleague Karl Stefanovic.

Nine axed the former co-host, 51, on Wednesday after he copped backlash for interviewing British far-right activist Tommy Robinson on The Karl Stefanovic Show. 

But it was business as usual this morning as co-star Sarah Abo and fill-in host Tom Steinfort failed to address Stefanovic's absence from the show.

The pair covered current affairs as usual, but there was no mention of Stefanovic leaving the network, despite it being overnight breaking news.  

It comes after a petition seeking to 'save Karl Stefanovic' emerged following his resignation from Nine in the wake of his controversial interview with Robinson.

'Save Karl!' reads the petition, which has been posted to the Revive Australia website, where 6,036 signatures have been collected as of 6.30pm Thursday evening.

The petition calls on the Australian media to 'Respect Karl Stefanovic's right to conduct interviews and speak to controversial figures' and argues that Australian viewers are 'adults who can listen, judge and decide for themselves'.

It also seeks to 'reject activist pressure campaigns that try to punish media figures for speaking to the wrong person' and 'defend the right of presenters, journalists and broadcasters to ask questions without fear'.

'Protect a media culture where difficult conversations can still happen in the open,' the petition urges.

Revive Australia 'aims to make necessary arguments speakable again, to create space for leadership where silence has been enforced, to support campaigns that shift what is possible, and connect Australians who are prepared to act', according to a description on the website.

On Wednesday evening, The Sydney Morning Herald confirmed Stefanovic's departure from Nine, indicating the decision was made in part to 'defuse a major advertiser boycott'.

Stefanovic, who is currently on two weeks' leave in London, was told the network 'wanted to part ways' on Wednesday evening.

The Australian had earlier reported that Stefanovic has 'almost certainly' appeared on the breakfast show for the last time.

A source told the Daily Mail on Wednesday evening that Stefanovic was indeed 'gone'.

The network was huddled in '11th hour closed-door meetings' in Sydney on Wednesday to decide the television host's fate, The Australian reported.

Both sides 'are expected to call in their respective lawyers' to 'officially draw up a legal deed confirming the terms of Stefanovic's departure from the network', The Australian reported.

The TV star, who has been a Nine stalwart for some 25 years, has six months and over $1 million left to be paid on his current 12-month contract.

The Daily Mail has contacted Channel Nine and a representative for Karl Stefanovic for comment.

Stefanovic – who has been branded 'Joe Bogan' thanks to his attempts at replicating the success of Joe Rogan's podcast – sparked controversy this week when he published an interview with divisive far-right commentator Robinson.

By Wednesday morning, Stefanovic's sit-down with the British personality had mysteriously vanished from Spotify, Apple Podcasts and The Karl Stefanovic Show YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, activist group Mad F***ing Witches (MFW) announced that it had launched a campaign against Stefanovic over the interview with Robinson.

The grassroots organisation is known for launching advertising boycotts against media figures, having previously targeted Kyle Sandilands.