Channel Nine’s morning news program Today has announced that sports presenter Alex Cullen is “stepping down permanently” from his role.
This news comes after a controversy surrounding a comment Cullen made on air about businessman and social media personality Adrian Portelli.
What Happened?
During a broadcast last Friday, Cullen referred to Portelli as “the McLaren man” – a nickname that sparked a lot of attention.
It was later revealed that Portelli had offered $50,000 to the first journalist to call him by that name on TV.
The nickname was reportedly an attempt to distance himself from his previous nickname “the Lambo guy”, which he got after appearing on The Block with a yellow Lamborghini.
The Controversy Unfolds
The comment sparked a lot of controversy, and Channel Nine took the matter very seriously.
The network announced that they would be taking “appropriate action” and that Cullen would be standing down while they reviewed the circumstances.
Now, it’s been confirmed that Cullen has left the network for good.
A Statement from the Network
A Nine spokesperson said, “Nine has agreed with Today presenter and journalist, Alex Cullen, that he will finish with the network following a review into a recent incident.”
Today host Karl Stefanovic also addressed the situation on air, saying that Cullen had agreed to leave the network.
A Classy Move from Portelli
In a surprising turn of events, Portelli donated $25,000 to both the Salvation Army and the RSPCA in Cullen’s name.
He even praised Cullen’s character, saying that he had expressed his desire to donate the money before he even heard from Channel Nine.
What’s Next for Alex Cullen?
As for Cullen, it’s not clear what his next move will be. However, Portelli has offered to collaborate with him on a project, saying “If Ch9 let you go (though I really hope they don’t!), I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you on something.”
We’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for this former Today show presenter.