Journalists at Nine were 'really angry' with the content of Karl Stefanovic's independent podcast well before his embrace of Tommy Robinson led to a rebuke from management which caused the Today host to 'panic', sources say.
Disquiet over guest lineup
Guardian Australia understands there has been 'huge disquiet' about Stefanovic's roster of anti-immigration guests since he launched the Karl Stefanovic Show in February; and widespread confusion about why Nine's biggest star was given so much latitude by management. But Stefanovic, who was still being paid millions to host the Today show, ignored the feedback from Nine executives.
That latitude came to an end on Friday when Nine said the network and Stefanovic agreed 'that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast'.
Stefanovic's warp-speed journey to the right
The statement closed the chapter on an almost continuous 21 years of Stefanovic hosting the breakfast show and fronting the biggest news events as the face of Channel Nine News. Sources said although Stefanovic had been warned multiple times about his outside activity courting trouble, he ignored Nine's feedback and travelled to the UK to interview Robinson, the far-right anti-Islamic activist who has been a key figure behind actions like the 'Unite the Kingdom' march in London last year.
Contacted by Nine executives who said words to the effect of 'you've gone too far', sources said Stefanovic 'panicked' and took the content down from YouTube and streaming platforms despite Nine not ordering him to do so.
'They would have said to him, "You've crossed the line here, we're calling you in for discussion",' said one senior Nine journalist, who asked not to be named.
Falsehoods and contempt of court
Stefanovic gave Robinson almost an hour of uninterrupted airtime and allowed Robinson to repeat falsehoods, including lies for which he has previously been found to be in contempt of court. Stefanovic laughed along with him and embraced him, saying he admired his tenacity and courage in standing up 'for what you believe is right'.
'Staff are really, really angry,' another senior Nine journalist, who also asked to remain anonymous, told Guardian Australia. 'Because it's like there's two sets of rules: there's one set of rules for the richest guy in the business who is mates with the former CEO [Mike Sneesby]. But the rest of us have to abide by normal, common decency and work within the rules.'
Stefanovic's 'free' comment stokes anger
Stefanovic's claim in a farewell video that he was finally 'free' has stoked more anger at Nine because Stefanovic has repeatedly undermined the reporting of his colleagues. Sneesby stepped down as CEO in late 2024 and was replaced by Matt Stanton. Stefanovic's final contract was for just one year and it was agreed he could host an independent podcast. However, management was unaware Stefanovic would take a sharp turn to the right in his choice of guests. His first interviewee was One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
Multiple staff have privately accused Stefanovic of giving extremists a 'megaphone'. His most popular videos on YouTube have featured guests with strong anti-immigration views.
'The amount of hate that he's stoking … We spend a lot of time pushing against extremism … and he's given them a megaphone,' one reporter not authorised to speak publicly said.
Management's response
Guardian Australia understands staff made multiple complaints to management about Stefanovic's undermining of their journalism and his flirting with the far right, which they say put them at risk from extremists.
'Stefanovic just ignored it totally, so there's been anger for months,' a source said.
Nine's news and current affairs chief, Fiona Dear, pointedly said in a staff email the network believed in protecting freedom of speech but upholding the Nine brand 'built on trust and respect' was vital.
'As journalists, we play a critical role in society to question, challenge, and hold people to account regardless of where they come from or which political party or views they represent,' Dear said. 'Protecting freedom of speech is at the core of 9News and Current Affairs. We have a rich history of interviewing controversial figures, and journalists have an obligation to ask difficult questions.'
Podcast content criticised as 'dull'
It remains unclear what Stefanovic told Nine about the proposed content of his podcast when he was given approval by the broadcaster late last year, but many staff say it is 'embarrassing' in its approach to contentious guests.
'What everybody at Nine in the papers and television say is how utterly dull that podcast is,' a source said. 'It doesn't actually ask any interesting questions, and he just throws softballs, and it's embarrassing and boring.'
Stefanovic has a number of sponsors and he called on them in a farewell video to keep supporting him. One sponsor, the Queensland clothing brand Ringers Western, said Stefanovic was 'giving a voice to people from all spectrums and freedom of speech is essential to any free and fair democracy'.
'The motto of Ringers Western is Stickin' Together and we live by it. We support and stand by the Karl Stefanovic Show and will be continuing our sponsorship of the Show.'
Stefanovic has been approached for comment.
