Multimillionaire breakfast TV host Karl Stefanovic is under fire after his new podcast’s team was caught requesting a complimentary hotel room in London for his trip in June. 

Critics were quick to demand an explanation for why Australia’s highest-paid television star appeared to be chasing freebies. 

Stefanovic, however, has offered a very different story.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 51-year-old distanced himself completely from his team, saying he had no idea the London trip was even planned, let alone being involved in any potential contra arrangements.

‘I wasn’t aware of the trip to London. There’s a bit on. Regardless, I have a young and enthusiastic team at the show with their eyes set on taking the Joe Bogan show global,’ Stefanovic said. 

‘I don’t really share those lofty ambitions but if they want to organise trips overseas to interview right-wingers I’m all for it. I think ambition is invigorating.’   

Karl Stefanovic has offered a surprising response amid backlash surrounding his team’s ad asking for freebies in London while recording his podcast 

‘Ambition’ is certainly one way to describe posting ads asking for freebies. 

Stefanovic then attempted to explain why his team were looking for a free hotel room, bizarrely claiming that he wouldn’t be paying for employees’ accomodation, flights or travel allowance if they do end up going to London.

‘And they won’t be staying with me at the Ritz. Hustle away… And they won’t be allowed in my Toyota Rogue when I get there.’ 

He failed to explain why the ad stated his team wanted to use the free hotel room as a recording studio, however. 

Surely a room at ‘the Ritz’ would suffice? 

The podcast’s publicist Keshnee Kemp, who posted the now-infamous ad in industry newsletter Social Diary this week, also spoke to the publication. 

She confirmed that the London trip hasn’t actually been confirmed, insisting that she was just ‘forward planning’ with her call-out for a free hotel room. 

Kenshee, who is a long-time friend of Stefanovic’s wife Jasmine Yarbrough and even attended their wedding, has deleted the ad from Social Diary’s weekly newsletter wrap.  

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald , the 51-year-old distanced himself completely from his team, saying he had no idea the London trip was even planned, let alone being involved in any potential contra arrangements

Stefanovic then attempted to explain why his team were looking for a free hotel room, bizarrely claiming that he wouldn’t be paying for employees’ accomodation, flights or travel allowance if they do end up going to London

The ad stated that the Today show host will be travelling to London in a few months to record his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.

‘We’d love to hear from hotel partners interested in accommodation partnerships (which will also be used as a studio for episodes),’ the ad read. 

The request was particularly surprising given Stefanovic’s eye-watering salary. 

As the long-time host of Nine’s Today show, he is widely regarded as the highest-paid television personality in Australia. 

It was reported his annual pay packet was around $3 million – although it was recently rumoured he had a pay cut, taking his salary down to $2 million.

The ad was also curious for another reason: accommodation used for business purposes is typically considered a legitimate tax deduction in Australia. 

If a hotel room were genuinely to be used as a recording location for a podcast, the cost would ordinarily be something Stefanovic’s team could claim as a work-related expense.

It comes as rumours continue to swirl that Stefanovic is preparing to walk away from his high-profile Today gig.

The ad – published in the latest edition of industry newsletter Social Diary – stated that the Today show host will be travelling to London in a few months to record his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show 

As the long-time host of Nine’s Today show, he is widely regarded as the highest-paid television personality in Australia. (Pictured on the show with co-host Sarah Abo) 

The Australian claimed on Monday that it is unlikely Stefanovic will extend his multi-million-dollar contract when it expires at the end of the year, and is eyeing a ‘full-time switch to radio’.

Stefanovic reportedly had informal talks with Australian Radio Network (ARN) regarding the move ‘as recently as a month ago’ and is currently weighing up his options.

According to the report, Stefanovic told ARN boss Michael Stephenson during their meeting that ‘he doesn’t know what he is doing next year’.

The publication also claimed that Nine’s decision to grant permission for Stefanovic to launch his own podcast was a ‘mistake’.

It was suggested that executives ‘underestimated Stefanovic’s work ethic and commitment to the project’, particularly his desire to keep the project independent of Nine. 

Nine did not comment to The Australian about the suggestion that Stefanovic was going against the Nine ‘company line’ regarding his podcast content, instead noting: ‘This is an independent podcast entirely produced by Karl.’