Karl Stefanovic is having the year from hell. After the Uber-gate scandal and rising tensions with his co-host Georgie Gardner, the 43-year-old is not in a good space.
And now, hitting yet another career low after being snubbed for a Logie nomination, it’s getting too much for the TV staple and he’s since been seen seeking comfort from his young fiancee Jasmine Yarbrough, 34.
Looking visibly distressed, it seems Karl is suffering and insiders reveal to New Idea that the TV personality is falling apart as his professional life takes a major downturn.
‘Karl is devastated that he’s been snubbed for a Logie nomination,’ an industry source spills.
‘Professionally he’s just taking blow after blow after blow at the moment, and he’s at the end of his rope.’
And the Today host isn’t the only star who’s been snubbed by the prestigious awards show.
The Project’s Waleed Aly and Karl’s former colleague Lisa Wilkinson were also overlooked for nominations.
SEE ALSO: Snubbed Lisa Wilkinson’s fury at Karl Stefanovic and Carrie Bickmore
Back in April, Karl was spotted locked in conversation with Carrie Bickmore – who has been nominated for Most Popular Presenter – prompting speculation that the TV host was attempting to lure The Project star over to the Nine Network.
The two personalities have long been good friends, and to have her onside would help ease the on-set tensions between himself and Georgie.
However, with the news of the shock Logie snubs, everyone has been left wondering whether they’ve been cursed like Karl.
‘Everyone is talking about “The Karl Effect,”’ says an industry insider.
‘Once upon a time, everything that Karl touched turned to gold – he was Nine’s Golden Boy – and now it’s quite the opposite.
Viewers loved him, Nine bosses loved him, he was a shoo-in for the Logies every year – and now he’s struggling on all fronts.
‘And while people used to love posing with him for the cameras and working with him, now “The Karl Effect” is turning them off.’
And then there’s the fact that Family Feud host Grant Denyer has been nominated for an award, despite Network Ten announcing last month that his popular game show was being axed.
It’s a huge blow to Karl’s ego that his rivals are having the last laugh. And the fact that Karl seems to have gone from hero to zero in a matter of months is a bitter pill for him to swallow.
Adding salt to the wound is the news that A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw is up for the coveted Gold Logie award.
While Karl’s popularity is waning by the day, Tracy is being touted as Nine’s hero – following whispers that network head honchos are behind a secret campaign at Nine to push her as the favourite in the bid for the Gold Logie.
‘At the end of the day, things couldn’t be worse for Karl. He feels like he’s hit rock bottom and the fact that Tracy and Grant are both favourites for the Gold Logie is a real kick in the teeth for him,’ continues the insider.
‘While he likes and respects both hosts – especially Tracy – Karl sees himself as a bigger celebrity and as having more star power than Tracy and Grant. He feels humiliated to be losing out to both of them so publicly.’
Of course, Karl’s divorce from ex-wife of 21 years Cassandra Thorburn hasn’t helped matters either, with his popularity among Today show viewers taking a huge hit.
‘First it was all the heat over his messy split from Cassie and the backlash over his new relationship with Jasmine, because she’s so much younger – he knows he’s lost a lot of his female fan base over it all,’ New Idea’s insider adds.
And while the exact reason for the father-of-three’s Logie snub remains a mystery, insiders are speculating that Karl’s fellow presenters may know more than they’re letting on.
‘Lisa and Tracy both know that people in the industry are talking about whether bosses will sign him on for another contract or whether it’s time to move on.’
In 2011, Karl won two Logies, and the following year he was nominated twice. Confident of his career success, he even took a dig at his pal Carrie for not getting one.
‘A few years ago, Karl was the king of Australian TV – now he can’t even get a nomination. It’s clearer than ever that Karl’s star has well and truly fallen.’
SEE ALSO: Today Show stars in crisis: It’s war!
For the full story see this weeks issue of New Idea – out now!
In this week’s episode of TV podcast, Binge List, Matthew Denby, Clare Rigden and Gavin Scott discuss and debate true-crime drama American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, ABC series Mystery Road and Netflix food doco The Magic Pill. Plus, we ask To Binge Or Not Binge The Good Fight and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and delve into Hidden Gem Dead Boss. Listen below, or on iTunes: http://po.st/syE3JF or OMNY: http://po.st/Bg4FlU
