Former Today Show presenter, Alex Cullen, has officially parted ways with Channel Nine following a controversial $50,000 payment from billionaire Adrian Portelli.
The news was announced on Friday morning by Cullen’s colleague Karl Stefanovic during the Today Show broadcast.
“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”.
The saga began when Portelli offered $50,000 to the first media personality who would refer to him as “McLaren Man” on air, rather than his popular nickname “Lambo Man” he received from his time on The Block.
Cullen allegedly took up the challenge during a Today Show segment, which reportedly lead to Portelli transferring the money to him and posting about it on his Instagram.
According to The Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA) Journalist Code of Ethics, journalists should “not allow personal interest, or any belief, commitment, payment, gift or benefit to undermine [their] accuracy, fairness or independence”, hence the issue with Cullen’s choice to reportedly accept funds from Portelli.
Nine quickly suspended Cullen and launched an internal investigation. “Nine is taking this matter extremely seriously. Appropriate action has been promptly taken, including arranging for the funds to be returned,” a Nine spokesperson told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“While we review the circumstances in which this occurred, Alex has agreed to stand down.”
Stefanovic praised Cullen’s contributions to the show, saying, “Alex has, of course, 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, that’s for sure”.
Despite the controversy, Portelli later claimed that Cullen had always intended to donate the money to charity. He took to Instagram to post receipts of $25,000 donations made to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA on Cullen’s behalf, stating, “Alex Cullen… on behalf of you, mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA”.
Portelli is most known for buying up all The Block houses in 2024 and putting them up as prizes in a lottery. Him and his company, LMCT+, are currently facing charges in South Australia, including nice counts of allegedly conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery in the state.
Lead image: Today Show / Instagram / Getty Images
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