Karl Stefanovic: why being a media personality chased by the media nearly broke him

It’s at home that Karl Stefanovic truly feels safe – away from the spotlight, the prying eyes of the paparazzi, and the judgment from the viewers of the Today show that have watched him every morning for 14 years.

In the past two of those years, Stefanovic has rarely been out of the headlines – a lot of it for his personal life, which has seemed to be fair game.

First, it was revealed in October, 2016, that he had split from his wife of 21 years and mother to his three children, Cassandra Thorburn.

Then a year later, as his divorce continued to be scrutinised in the women’s magazines, Stefanovic, 43, met shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, 34.

The pair have had a commitment ceremony and will marry later this year – Stefanovic says a venue hasn’t yet been decided.

He admits the constant scrutiny, which has led to reams of column inches, is at times bruising and that in the past it has nearly broken him.

“I keep having to reassure myself not everyone thinks that, and I don’t think anyone is that interested in me,” he says.

“I can’t control much of the coverage. But as long as in my house, in my home, Jasmine and I are in love, we are open with each other and I can talk about anything with her, that’s my safe environment.”

Stefanovic was engaged in media commitments over lunch at one of his favourite restaurants in Melbourne, Crown’s Rockpool, not long after the divorce became public, and he seemed shell-shocked. Everyone at the time had an opinion on his divorce including, reportedly, some female viewers of Today who had sided with Thorburn and were consequently turning off.

During that time, Stefanovic says he had the support of some very high-profile Melburnians.

“Eddie and Carla (McGuire) have been amazing friends for me,” he says.

“When you go through difficulties, and I’m not saying I’m a martyr in that regard, people turn up, and they did just that.

“I just think they are wonderful. I’ve got some wonderful friends down here.”

One day Stefanovic could see the Today show permanently moving to Melbourne.

“There is no better or brilliant TV place,” he says.

Every time he comes to Melbourne, Stefanovic usually stays in the same room at Crown and in the bubble of the restaurants, away from the paparazzi.

A year after that Rockpool lunch, the headlines are still relentless, but Stefanovic says this time he is in a much happier place because of Yarbrough. But the pair are unlikely to hit a red carpet together. At the Logies on the Gold Coast earlier this month, Yarbrough was there but stayed away from the televised red carpet because it was too full on.

“No one should feel sorry for us in any way shape or form, but she has had to deal with a lot,” he says.

“It wouldn’t be easy coming into Karl Stefanovic’s world, but I’m enjoying being in her world.

“She is a breath of fresh air, [and] she’s incredibly strong. She just makes me cry with laughter every day.”

After a period as Nine’s US correspondent, Stefanovic started working as the co-host on Today when he was 30. It’s an age now that seems ridiculously young for such a high-profile television role. He has covered royal weddings, presidential inaugurations, a number of Australian elections, tsunamis, bushfires and terror attacks.

The story that affected him most was the Nice terror attack in July, 2016, where 87 people – many children – died after a truck drove into a crowd.

“It took me a long time to get over that one,” he says. “I remember standing there and this kid brought up a colouring-in piece of paper, and put it down at the memorial.

“I started crying, and I didn’t stop.”

He insists journalists, including himself, aren’t robots when it comes to coping with stories. “I think as journalists, you have to be really aware of the toll it can take and I think it’s OK to speak to someone and work through the emotions,” he says.

Stefanovic has worked with numerous Today co-hosts, including Tracy Grimshaw, Jessica Rowe for an ill-fated period, Lisa Wilkinson for 10 years, and now Georgie Gardner.

The public perception of that new pairing didn’t start well. The so-called “Ubergate” story broke in March, after comments from a discussion in an Uber car between himself and his brother, journalist Peter Stefanovic, were leaked to the press.

Now, both Today hosts insist their relationship is in a good place.

“She is awesome, there is so much b******* about us,” Stefanovic says. “We just would not work with each other if we didn’t like each other. I’m loving it, she is loving it. Everyone is on their toes.

“I think the bar has been lifted by her, and we are all becoming better at what we do because of her.”

Walking the red carpet together at the Logies, Gardner said all the chatter about her alleged dislike for Stefanovic is not true.

“I knew what I was getting myself in for, and that is he is predictably unpredictable,” she says.

“We have a lot of fun, we laugh a lot and we have each other’s backs. I think there is a really good chemistry there, and more to come.”

Stefanovic has had a lot going on in his work and personal lives in the past few years.

He hopes the personal side will settle down, but one thing is for sure – despite rumours of him departing Today, he’s not going anywhere.

“It’s the best job in TV, and I won’t be leaving it anytime soon.”