Alex Cullen departs Nine over $50,000 Portelli payment
Alex Cullen has stood down permanently from his on-air role with Today and Nine, after accepting $50,000 from billionaire Adrian Portelli in exchange for helping to rebrand him on air.
Cullen’s former Today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo announced his departure on air this morning
“As most of you are well aware, our colleague Alex Cullen has not been on air with us this past week,” Stefanovic said.
“There has been widespread reporting on the circumstances surrounding this, what I can say is that last night, Alex and Nine agreed that he would finish with the network.”
Abo added that Cullen had “been part of the Today family for five years now, he’s always ready with a smile and a laugh and without hesitation speaking for all of us here, we can say that we are going to miss him terribly.
“Alex is a terrific fella, what you see is what you get and he has been a great mate to all of us over these years and we wish Alex, his wife Bonnie and his beautiful kids all the very best for the future.”
Nine confirmed the news this morning, telling Mumbrella: “Nine has agreed with TODAY presenter and journalist Alex Cullen that he will finish with the network following a review into a recent incident.”
It brings to an end one of the sillier moments in recent breakfast TV history.
Billionaire real estate investor Adrian Portelli is widely referred to in the media as ‘Lambo Guy’, after arriving at a 2022 auction on Nine’s The Block in a garish yellow Lamborghini.
He is not a fan of the branding, saying the media was “subconsciously trying to degrade me by giving me this nickname, and I’m over it”, adding: “I’ve told them many, many times to stop.”
To this end, the billionaire offered $50,000 to “the first TV journalist who calls me McLaren Guy and NOT Lambo Guy”, after which Cullen used a live cross from the Australian Open to the Today studio to refer to Portelli as the McLaren guy, with Stefanovic following suit and joking they will split the prize money.
Hours later, Portelli posted a screenshot of a bank transfer to Cullen and the comment: “We have a winner! Well played sir.”
Nine acted swiftly, removing Cullen from air ahead of an investigation.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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…. Will it take for Tajer to depart Seven?
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What did Karl get for playing along with it?
And still no one fired following the culture investigation.
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So executives can take incentives but common folk can’t. So what’s the difference between an executives taking performance bonuses and a employee accepting a incentive offered by a private individual. Double standards in my eyes. In fact most don’t deserve their bonus as normally it’s the regular employee that makes the sacrifices.
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Sad loss of a great talent. Onwards and upwards Alex ✌️
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I cant wait to see how Lambo guy spins this. Being the reason someone lost his job, and career, is not something i would like to have hanging over me. Sorry for Alex – he was an excellent talent.
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I cant wait to see how Lambo guy spins this. Being the reason someone lost his job, and career, is not something i would like to have hanging over me. Sorry for Alex – he was an excellent talent.
Portelli can go ahead and send that money back to Cullen now.
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Another good reason to stop watching 9 morning show. Hope Adrian looks after him. When one door shuts another opens. Karl should have stood up for him. What a big lost for nine. Treated him badly when they took him off the news and put him on sports.
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… “with Stefanovic following suit and joking they will split the prize money”. So, no departure for Karl?
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If it was stated in Alex’s contract that he could/ should not be party to external influences for financial gain then Nine is within their right to stand him down but I believe that Nine has encouraged this behaviour by giving Adrian Portelli oxygen in their promotions , as in the Block and Today’s programs. I am of the opinion Nine could have been compassionate in the handling of this unfortunate situation. Sad loss for Nine network.
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What couldn’t he be given a warning or fined or something…but to be sacked! Channel 9 you are being so harsh…it was just a silly joke! Karl Stefanovic had his say and joked about sharing the 50,000. He gets to keep his job. Alex i is such a lovely guy and so well
liked and brings so much to the Today Show….he’s an asset to channel 9. His TV career is most likely over now. Such a shame
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Channel 9 omg …when did it become a crime to help someone change their nickname … yes Alex called him McLaren man so what…I get the issue is the exchange of money and it’s not a good look due to Alex’s ability to capture a wider audience however would Alex have accepted the money no one gave him a chance to do anything with it…personally ch9 have priorities wrong they hide and allow bullying harassment and unfair treatment of its staff and present bullying on MAFS without a flinch ..boo to ch9 im done with u ill tune in elsewhere. Good luck Alex your best off without ch9 crap. I hope McLaren man helps you out.
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I feel for Alex I think to get rid of him is a bit drastic He will be missed there are people who have done worse at least he owned up.
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The billionaire should also get his block money back too because nine benefited by promoting him for the benefit of their show and raised his profile. The newsreader should get a job on seven. Nine took democrats money for biased US election reporting and blocked comments as against it’s guidelines. I’m blocking all nine content in my newsfeed.
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Good god I hope some of you go and read your employers Anti-bribery and corruption policies (hint, they may or may not be part of your employment contract).
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