Home Entertainment Enraged Channel Nine viewers vow to boycott the Today show as the network axe Alex Cullen after $50,000 Adrian Portelli gift scandal

Enraged Channel Nine viewers vow to boycott the Today show as the network axe Alex Cullen after $50,000 Adrian Portelli gift scandal

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Channel Nine viewers threaten to boycott today's show after Alex Cullen (pictured) was removed from the network

Channel Nine viewers are threatening to boycott today’s show after Alex Cullen was removed from the network.

On Friday, hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo announced that Cullen would not be returning to the show after accepting $50,000 from block billionaire Adrian Portelli.

“As most of you are aware, our colleague Alex Cullen has not been on air with us this past week,” a solemn Stefanovic told Live on Air viewers.

‘There have been widespread reports about the circumstances surrounding this, what I can say is that last night Alex and Nine agreed that he would end the network.

‘Alex of course has been part of the family today for five years, he is always ready with a smile and a laugh and without hesitation speaking for all of us here, we can say that he is going to be missed terribly, that’s for sure.

“Alex is a great guy, what you see is what you get and he has been a great partner to all of us over the years and we wish Alex, his wife Bonnie and their beautiful children the best for the future.”

Channel Nine viewers threaten to boycott today’s show after Alex Cullen (pictured) was removed from the network

Outraged fans have since vowed to nix the network’s breakfast show following its decision.

‘What an absolute exaggeration. Alex is the only watch host today,’ said one viewer.

‘I’m gone, I won’t see you again on principle. He must be devastated, especially since Portelli said he had already said he wanted the money to go to charity.

‘If presenters were fired for bad behavior, Stefanovic should have left years ago. So it seems that Alex was unfairly attacked.

‘Alex Cullen made today watchable. It’s already been changed,’ said another.

“It’s a shame Alex was my favorite on the Today show,” added one heartbroken fan.

“I hope Alex shows up at dawn, that’s what I’ll be watching now,” someone else said.

Cullen, 44, received the hefty sum after he was the first media personality to use Portelli’s self-proclaimed nickname ‘McLaren Man’ live on air last week, sparking a firestorm.

1737795577 506 Enraged Channel Nine viewers vow to boycott the Today show

1737795577 913 Enraged Channel Nine viewers vow to boycott the Today show

1737795577 160 Enraged Channel Nine viewers vow to boycott the Today show

Outraged fans have vowed to reject the network's breakfast show after its decision

Outraged fans have vowed to reject the network’s breakfast show after its decision

The scandal began when Portelli had grown tired of his long-used nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ and offered cash reward to the first person to use his new nickname on air, with Cullen obliged on the Today show last Friday. .

The blockchain entrepreneur recorded what appeared to be a $50,000 wire transfer to the presenter on Instagram.

Accepting cash, gifts or benefits to undermine journalistic independence and improperly using a journalistic position for personal gain are violations of the Journalism Code of Ethics, as defined by the Media Arts and Entertainment Alliance Union.

The ill-advised stunt led to Cullen being suspended for nine and not appearing on the show while the network investigated the payment. The sum has been donated to the charity by Portelli.

A spokesperson for Nine told Daily Mail Australia: “Nine has agreed with today’s presenter and journalist Alex Cullen that he will end the network following a review into a recent incident.”

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Adrian Portelli for comment.

On Tuesday, Cullen resurfaced on social media to share a birthday tribute to his daughters on Instagram.

She posted a variety of sweet photos of her twin daughters Audrey and Evie celebrating their sixth birthday.

On Friday, today host Karl Stefanovic made the announcement that Cullen had left the network live on air. Pictured: today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo

On Friday, today host Karl Stefanovic made the announcement that Cullen had left the network live on air. Pictured: today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo

1737795579 643 Enraged Channel Nine viewers vow to boycott the Today show

“Alex is a great guy, what you see is what you get and he has been a great partner to all of us over the years and we wish Alex, his wife Bonnie and their beautiful children the best for the future,” Karl said

Alex, who shares three children with his wife Bonnie, also shared photos of his son Max, three, enjoying some low-key family time on the special day.

In a caption, he said: “Happy birthday to my darling girls Audrey and Evie.”

Although he did not mention Portelli’s scandal, he did receive support from his followers, who took the comments to share their hopes that he will soon return to the air.

One wrote: ‘Happy birthday, not watching channel nine until your back’, while another said: ‘Missing you! You’re the best! Wake up channel 9.’

A third commented: ‘Beautiful girls. I can’t believe they’re already 6! I just heard about all the work drama. I hope it is resolved quickly.

While a fourth was written: “Boycotting 9 until you’re back!” And another added: “Happy birthday ladies, looking forward to seeing you home at 9 very soon.”

Her nine co-stars Karl and Belinda Russell also sent birthday messages to their two daughters.

During his absence from the Today show, Cullen has been replaced by Clint Stanaway, who reports live from Melbourne for Nine’s coverage of Australian Open tennis.

Portelli has grown tired of his long-used nickname 'Mr Lambo' and offered cash reward to the first person to use his new nickname on air, with Cullen bound on the Today show on Friday.

Portelli has grown tired of his long-used nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ and offered cash reward to the first person to use his new nickname on air, with Cullen bound on the Today show on Friday.

Nine’s parting ways with Cullen went ahead despite Portelli’s claim that Cullen intended the money to be paid to charity all along.

Portelli published details of $25,000 payments made on his behalf to both the Salvation Army and the RSPCA.

“Alex Cullen…on behalf of you mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA,” Portelli wrote on Instagram.

‘I’ve kept pretty quiet about what developed with Alex, but before I’d even heard from CH9, we had a conversation in which he expressed his desire to donate the money.

‘That says a lot about his character. Alex, you are an absolute gentleman.

‘If Ch9 lets you go (although I really hope they don’t!), I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you on something. True class, friend!

Max Markson, who has been a leading PR agent for 50 years, earlier this week said that while it was not “non-normal” behavior for a presenter to accept such rewards, he believed Cullen had clearly done so in a light-hearted manner.

“I’m sure they didn’t think they were going to get the $50,000, but then they got it and unfortunately Alex has retired for the moment, which is crazy,” he told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.

‘He shouldn’t have taken the $50,000 obviously, but he’s given it back. I don’t think that’s the reason they did it, they did it as a joke obviously.

On Tuesday, Cullen resurfaced on social media to share a birthday tribute to his daughters on Instagram

On Tuesday, Cullen resurfaced on social media to share a birthday tribute to his daughters on Instagram

On Tuesday, Portelli defended Cullen and claimed he intended to pay the money to charity, publishing details of two $25,000 payments made to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA

On Tuesday, Portelli defended Cullen and claimed he intended to pay the money to charity, publishing details of two $25,000 payments made to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA

Markson didn’t think it would do Cullen’s television career any lasting damage and predicted he would be back on the air in seven days.

Nine experts also told Daily Mail Australia that the stunt could have been beneficial to the network and Portelli, if Cullen had advised the promoter that, as a journalist, he could not accept any payment for making the comment on air.

Portelli first received the unwanted nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ after arriving at a 2022 auction of the house’s popular makeover show in a yellow Lamborghini.

Cullen joined today for its relaunch five years ago. Initially he was solely the sports presenter, but took over news when Tracy Vo quit the show and returned to 9News Perth.

(Tagstotranslate) DailyMail (T) TVShowBiz (T) Alex Cullen

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