Karl Stefanovic’s former Today co-host Georgie Gardner reportedly played a huge role in his sudden ousting from the breakfast show this week.
A senior Channel Nine executive told The Daily Telegraph Georgie met with Nine bosses and demanded Karl be given the flick after a year of declining ratings and terrible publicity, thanks to his high profile divorce and lavish Mexico wedding.
“Georgie simply demanded she won’t work with Karl anymore,” the Channel 9 executive told The Telegraph.
“She hates Karl and has done for a long time. They didn’t like each other before she joined the show. Then the Uber thing tipped it over the edge. And then the wedding, she didn’t go when she was invited. You’d think your co-host would support you by being there but Georgie can’t stand Karl and has been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
Another source said: “Georgie is now regretting that she left her old role to go to the Today show and she blames Karl for the whole mess. It is very ugly.”
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But a Channel Nine spokesperson refuted the accusations, saying: “This claim is utter garbage. The decision was made solely by management.”
READ MORE: Lisa Wilkinson responds to Karl’s sacking
Karl and Georgie were never great mates, but their relationship soured in March, when a private phone call between Karl and his brother Pete Stefanovic was made public by an anonymous Uber driver.
During the phone call, Karl apparently bad-mouthed Georgie.
He accused her of “sitting on the fence” and not having enough opinions and that she needed to “step up” if she “wanted to stay on the show.”
READ MORE: How Karl Stefanovic lost his larrikin appeal
Georgie Gardner and Karl Stefanovic reportedly did not get along. (Image: Getty)
A Nine source told Woman’s Day that Georgie is “pissed off” and the network were in were crisis meetings about it last week, with Nine executives in damage control.”
“She’s furious. She made it clear when she came back to Today, she wasn’t going to put up with Karl’s antics,” the insider explained.
READ MORE: Karl Stefanovic & Georgie Gardner’s awkward reunion after Uber scandal
Georgie Gardner has reportedly never been close with Karl. (Image: Getty)
Georgie Gardner replaced Lisa Wilkinson earlier this year. (Image: Getty)
In June, Georgie told Hughesy & Kate she was blindsided by the story.
“There was something in the paper that was alluding that there was going to be war at breakfast, and I thought, ‘Gee I wonder who that is?’ And then it became, ‘Oh, hang on. It’s us’,” she explained.
Karl also told the radio due he was deeply sorry over the incident and grateful for how Georgie handled it.
“Georgie was so incredibly good about that, for God’s sake, I thought she was going to hit me!”
WATCH the awkward moment when a Today Show guest brings up Ubergate with Karl Stefanovic …
In March, the Stefanovic brothers issued an apology to Georgie and the other Channel Nine personalities they reportedly dissed in the phone call.
“We talk a hundred times a day and hardly ever about work,” Karl told The Sunday Telegraph.
“But we did, and the conversation was recorded. And we are sorry. I was angry with myself at first that I could be so stupid. Pete and I were guilty of having a spray after a Sunday BBQ.”
“For the record Georgie Gardner is killing it as well. She’s the best thing to happen to the show in years. She’s hungry, she’s working hard and making the show better every day. I love working with her. Anyone says differently, they don’t know.”
“Ps. I’ll be taking cabs from now on,” he joked.
READ MORE: Georgie Gardner’s skin cancer scare
While Peter added: “I did a silly thing and feel awful for any embarrassment I’ve brought to my (Channel 9) colleagues, who I deeply -respect.”
“I have spoken directly to the people involved and have offered my sincerest apologies as I have been raised to do. Do something wrong, apologise, and try to move on.
“It is embarrassing to not only get myself into this situation but also my big brother, and the network.”
“There’s nothing quite like having all your insecurities out there for people to see and read.
“I am now investing in a hands free ear piece, and I gave the driver one star – but only because you can’t give a zero,” Peter concluded.
