Sports presenter Alex Cullen is leaving Channel Nine's Today show following a recent incident where he referred to businessman Adrian Portelli by a nickname the latter had offered a reward for. Cullen's departure was confirmed by his former co-presenters and a Nine spokesperson.
Sports presenter Alex Cullen is stepping down permanently from his role on Channel Nine's morning news program Today and will leave the network, his former co-presenters have announced. Today host Karl Stefanovic said Cullen 'agreed that he would finish with the network' during this morning's broadcast, with Sarah Abo saying the team would 'miss him terribly'.
'Nine has agreed with Today presenter and journalist, Alex Cullen, that he will finish with the network following a review into a recent incident,' a Nine spokesperson told the ABC. Cullen last appeared on Today on Friday last week, when he referred to businessman and social media personality Adrian Portelli as 'the McLaren man' on air during a cross about the Australian Open.The comment sparked controversy as Mr Portelli had reportedly offered to pay $50,000 to the first journalist to refer to him by the nickname on television. Mr Portelli apparently had been trying to stop people calling him 'the Lambo guy' — a nickname some gave him after he appeared in a Lamborghini. Appropriate action has been promptly taken, including arranging for the funds to be returned. Now the network has confirmed Cullen's departure, referring to his exit as him 'stepping down permanently from his role with Today and Nine'. On air this morning, Stefanovic said: 'As most of you are well aware, our colleague Alex Cullen has not been on air with us this past week. '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.' Two days ago, Mr Portelli posted on Instagram to say he'd donated $25,000 to both the Salvation Army and the RSPCA in Cullen's name. 'I've kept pretty quiet about what unfolded with Alex, but even before he'd heard from Ch9, we had a conversation where he expressed his desire to donate the money. If Ch9 let you go (though I really hope they don't!), I'd be more than happy to collaborate with you on something.
ALEX CULLEN CHANNEL NINE TODAY SHOW ADRIAN PORTELLI CONTROVERSY NICKNAME
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