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Karl Stefanovic has been dropped by Channel Nine amid the fallout from his controversial interview with Tommy Robinson, according to a new report.
The Today show star uploaded the controversial chat with the British far-right activist to his YouTube channel podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, on Wednesday, only to delete it a short time later after facing widespread backlash.
On Wednesday evening, The Australian reported that Stefanovic has 'almost certainly' appeared on the breakfast show for the last time.
The network was huddled in '11th hour closed-door meetings' in Sydney on Wednesday to decide the television host's fate, the publication reports.
Stefanovic is currently on two weeks leave in the UK, with Nine set to discuss the decision with him overnight due to the time difference.
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 reports.
Karl Stefanovic (pictured) has been dropped by Channel Nine amid the fallout from his controversial interview with Tommy Robinson, according to a new report
The Today show star uploaded the controversial chat with the British far-right activist to his YouTube channel podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show , on Wednesday, only to delete it a short time later after facing widespread backlash. Pictured: Tommy Robinson
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.
Daily Mail has contacted Channel Nine and a representative for Karl Stefanovic for comment.
The report follows news that Nine bosses were cooking up a plan to mitigate the PR damage caused by Stefanovic's eyebrow-raising interviews as well as recent comments he has made.
According to news.com.au, this plan 'could see his contract with Nine end earlier.'
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**king 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.
'Nine should be well aware: them taking Karl's podcast down won't stop us. In fact, it makes us even angrier they seem to think we're so easily fooled and silenced,' the organisation wrote on X.
On Wednesday evening, The Australian reported that Stefanovic has 'almost certainly' appeared on the breakfast show for the last time. Pictured on Today
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
In a statement to Daily Mail on Wednesday, a Nine spokesperson said Stefanovic's podcast is produced independently, and while it has no affiliation with the TV network, they are treating the matter seriously.
'The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production. Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail.
'However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.'
Pauline Hanson has meanwhile backed her 'good friend' Karl by uploading his pulled interview with Robinson to her own YouTube channel.
The episode – in which Stefanovic and Robinson discuss Islam, immigration and Australian politics – was removed less than 12 hours after it was uploaded.
Hanson weighed in on the saga on X, accusing the Nine Network of trying to 'sack' the Today show host.
'It looks like they're trying to sack my good friend Karl Stefanovic for this video with Tommy Robinson!' she wrote.
Hanson then criticised Nine's performance and management and justified sharing Stefanovic's interview as a warning about immigration and extremism, arguing he was raising issues Australians need to confront.
In a statement to Daily Mail on Wednesday, a Nine spokesperson said Stefanovic's podcast is produced independently, and while it has no affiliation with the TV network, they are treating the matter seriously
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
'Deb Knight was a huge flop for Channel 9 and while she was busy grilling me over One Nation's polling, Channel 9's ratings were in the toilet,' she added.
'In 2019 on live TV with her, I called on Channel 9 to bring back Karl. Now with six months to go on his contract the weak management of Channel 9 want to sack Karl over this interview.
'Tommy Robinson has a lesson for Australians. If we don't learn from the UK's mistakes on immigration and radical Islam, we are going to face the same destruction. This is exactly what Karl was trying to bring to Australia's attention.'
Hanson then concluded her post by asking: 'Have Channel 9 become just as bad as the ABC?'
Robinson has been a prominent figure in right-wing activism in the UK for almost a decade, and has a lengthy criminal record.
His convictions include violence, public order offences, contempt of court, stalking and harassing journalists, as well as financial and immigration fraud.
Stefanovic, one of Australia's most famous television presenters, has taken to interviewing right-wing personalities on his podcast, which he launched in January.
He has welcomed the likes of Hanson, and others from the party such as Barnaby Joyce and Sean Bell, onto the show.
Other right-wing guests include former Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard, and Coalition figures Alex Antic, Matt Canavan and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
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