Karl Stefanovic will not appear on his ARN radio show The Long Weekend this week, as the Nine Network reportedly moves to terminate his contract following an interview on his independent podcast with right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.
Sources have told Mediaweek that Stefanovic decided to stand aside to give all parties time to “review the situation.”
ARN has distanced itself from the controversy, with a spokesperson telling Mediaweek his podcast activities are entirely separate from the network.
“Karl’s association with ARN is limited to specific radio engagements,” an ARN spokesperson said. “His external media activities, including his podcast, are undertaken in a personal capacity and are entirely separate from the network, which we have no control over. They do not represent ARN’s views, editorial standards or programming.”
Nine is expected to end its contract with Stefanovic, with multiple outlets reporting executives held crisis meetings on Wednesday to consider his future at the network.
Nine told The Daily Telegraph: “The Karl Stefanovic Show is a completely independent production. Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes. However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.”
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The episode
The podcast episode, in which Robinson claimed an uprising is underway in Australia and declared he is causing a “f***ing earthquake” in the UK, was wiped from YouTube and other platforms less than 24 hours after it aired.
No reason was given for its removal.