Karl Stefanovic is reportedly set to lose his weekly radio show after just two episodes following the controversy that has engulfed the TV star.
The former Today Show host, 51, left Channel Nine last month after widespread criticism of his interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson on his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.
Following the backlash, his radio career with ARN was thrown into doubt, with New Idea revealing that he had been flying back Down Under from a trip to London for crisis talks.
Now, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Karl will not be returning to his weekly radio show, The Long Weekend, with Eddie McGuire on the Gold Network.
The show only launched two weeks ago, and Karl did not appear on Friday’s show amid the controversy surrounding him, with sources now claiming his ARN career is over.
His co-host, Eddie, 61, had previously said that Karl was due to return to air this week to discuss the circumstances around his abrupt exit from Channel Nine, but it’s understood this has been cancelled.
It is believed that Eddie will continue on a radio show with ARN, though it remains to be seen if it will hold the same title or fill the same timeslot.
Neither ARN nor Karl has yet officially confirmed any news surrounding his future with the radio network.
New Idea has contacted ARN for comment.
It follows New Idea revealing that Karl was travelling back to Australia for crisis talks with ARN following the global backlash to his now-deleted interview with Robinson.
While Karl recorded a video statement about his exit from Nine in London, sources claimed he was already on a flight back to Australia when Channel Nine’s statement was actually made public.
The veteran broadcaster was believed to have cut short his stay in London to fly home to face talks about his future at ARN’s Gold radio network.
“The timing couldn’t have been worse,” one industry source tells New Idea.
“Karl came home expecting some difficult conversations but he was effectively dealing with two separate crises at once.”
Insiders claim ARN executives had been quietly weighing up Karl’s future following the controversy surrounding his podcast.
It isn’t the first axing to rock ARN in recent weeks, after Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson’s KIIS FM radio show was sensationally cancelled following an on-air row.
And sources close to Kyle claim Karl has little hope of rescuing his ARN job in light of the recent controversy that has engulfed the TV star.
“As far as we’re concerned, Karl’s job is dead in the water,” one source claims.
So what’s next for Karl? The presenter himself has admitted he’s not sure.
In a video message confirming his exit from Nine, Karl himself said, “Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’ll figure it out.”
He also doubled down on his stance regarding his podcast, arguing that “the public deserves to hear perspectives”.
“On my show, I’ve spoken to people who have different perspectives. I know that winds some people up,” he said.
“Sometimes I agree with everything a guest says, sometimes I don’t. But importantly, you get to make up your mind.
“You have the right to hear from different voices. Freedom of speech, here and around the world, is what this show is about.
“You don’t have to listen to my show; you have the power. You are smart enough to make up your own mind.”
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Nine confirmed that Karl would be leaving the network “immediately”, rather than at the end of his contract, as planned.
“Nine Entertainment and Karl Stefanovic have agreed that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast,” Nine Entertainment said.
“While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would leave Today at the end of this year, they have subsequently decided he will leave the Network immediately.”
