has issued a public message to tech giant after the billionaire showed his support for the former Today host.
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Karl Stefanovic Reaches Out to Elon Musk
Karl Stefanovic has issued a public message to tech giant Elon Musk after the billionaire showed his support for the former Today host.Stefanovic, 51, has been ...
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Stefanovic, 51, has been in the headlines this week for his sudden exit from Nine following backlash over his interview with right-wing activist .
On Thursday, Musk weighed in on the presenter's axing via his X platform, delivering the stunned one-word reply, 'Wow,' when he heard the news.
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Now, Stefanovic has responded to Musk on his own X account, thanking the and CEO for his support.
'Free speech is important. Thanks @elonmusk for this platform,' Stefanovic posted.
Both Musk and weighed in on Stefanovic's exit from Channel Nine, following backlash over an interview with right-wing activist Robinson.
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Karl Stefanovic, 51, has issued a public message to tech giant Elon Musk after the billionaire showed his support for the former Today host. Pictured with wife Jasmine Yarbrough
The billionaires each made comments on the controversy on Thursday, with Packer critical of the network.
'I think it's pretty hypocritical not to allow Karl editorial independence, especially on something I didn't think was that bad,' Packer told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Tech giant Musk, meanwhile, delivered a one-word reply via his X platform, in reply to a post made by commentator Steven Mark Ryan.
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Ryan wrote a lengthy diatribe, which included, 'Bro took the red pill and I am here for it,' and credited Stefanovic with 'unplugging from The Matrix during the SCAMDEMIC'.
'Karl had a conversation on his new podcast and the mainstream media machine got its panties in SUCH A TWIST that they and rumours are now swirling that he has been fired,' Ryan wrote.
Musk responded to the post with a comment of surprise, writing simply: 'Wow.'
Stefanovic is understood to have been that the network wanted to part ways almost six months before his contract was due to expire - after advertiser concerns.
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Stefanovic has spent more than 25 years at the network and has fronted Today for much of the past two decades, .
On Thursday, Musk weighed in on the presenter's axing via his X platform, delivering the stunned one-word reply, 'Wow,' when he heard the news
Now, Stefanovic has responded to Musk on his own X account, thanking the Tesla and Space X CEO for his support
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Stefanovic has been in the headlines this week for his sudden exit from Nine following backlash over his interview with right-wing activist Tommy Robinson
'While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would , they have subsequently decided he will leave the Network immediately.'
Shortly after the announcement, Stefanovic addressed his Today show fans in a video — believed to be filmed in a London park — saying the last few days 'hadn't been easy', but he was happy to be 'truly independent' at last.
He also sent a message to his co-host Abo, asking her to take care of the Today show team.
On Wednesday evening, The Sydney Morning Herald confirmed Stefanovic's departure from Nine, indicating the decision was made in part to 'defuse a major advertiser boycott'.
Stefanovic was told the network ''.
The TV star, who has been a Nine stalwart for more than 25 years, has six months and more than $1 million left to be paid on his 12-month contract.
According to sources, he is pushing for a full payout of the remainder of his contract - similar to the lucrative exits secured by former Nine radio heavyweights Alan Jones and Ray Hadley - despite their vastly different departure circumstances.
Sources also claim Stefanovic was seeking to be released from his contract as soon as possible to pursue other media opportunities.
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