Karl Stefanovic reportedly leaving Nine after podcast with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson

Nine newspapers report that star presenter will leave after executives met to discuss his future on Wednesday night Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free weekly media newsletter here Nine Entertainment is expected to sever ties with Karl Stefanovic, Channel Nine’s highest-paid presenter, after the Today show co-host interviewed and embraced UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Executives held crisis meetings on Wednesday to consider the future of Stefanovic who has been a breakfast television star and face of the network for 20 years. There were fears the network’s advertisers would be targeted by online activists unhappy with Stefanovic’s roster of rightwing guests. Late on Wednesday, the Sydney Morning Herald, which is part of the Nine stable, reported that Stefanovic would leave the company. Nine has declined to comment. Stefanovic, who took two weeks leave from Today to record podcasts in the UK, filmed himself walking down a London street with his arm slung around Robinson, who has spearheaded recent nationalist demonstrations in the UK. But by Wednesday morning, the Robinson interview had been removed from the YouTube channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The promo had been w