Karl Stefanovic has finally responded to Robert Irwin’s cheeky Logies roast – and it appears there are no hard feelings.
The former Today host was nowhere to be seen at Sunday night’s TV Week Logie Awards, but that didn’t stop Irwin from making him one of the targets of his opening monologue.
At just 22, Irwin became the youngest person ever to host the Logies and wasted little time proving that his famously wholesome image wouldn’t prevent him from throwing a few punches.
“Unfortunately Karl Stefanovic didn’t RSVP tonight,” Irwin told the audience. “But we saved him a spare seat. It’s over there to the right … the far-right.”
The gag was a reference to the controversy surrounding Stefanovic’s interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson on his Sit Down with Karl Stefanovic podcast.
And while the joke drew plenty of reaction – not all of it positive – Stefanovic himself appears to have taken the whole thing rather better than some viewers.
Asked what he thought of Irwin’s dig, the 52-year-old revealed he hadn’t actually watched the ceremony.
“You know, I didn’t watch the Logies,” he said.
Instead, Stefanovic enjoyed something that had apparently been in short supply during his many years as a Logies regular: a decent Monday morning.
“I had the most beautiful night’s sleep, and I woke up fresh on a Monday morning after the Logies for the first time in 20 years,” he joked.
Anyone familiar with the Logies’ legendary afterparties may choose to read between the lines there.
But when it came to Irwin himself, Stefanovic clearly wasn’t interested in starting a feud with one of Australia’s most relentlessly likeable television personalities.
“Can’t be cranky with Robert Irwin,” he said with a laugh. “It would be like being cranky with Bambi.”
Fair point. It is difficult to launch a counterattack when your opponent looks capable of apologising to a mosquito.
Irwin’s joke had divided viewers after Sunday’s ceremony, with some criticising the young host for bringing politics into the Logies while others praised him for being willing to take a few risks during his hosting debut.
Former Logies host and newly crowned Gold Logie winner Sam Pang was firmly in Irwin’s corner, describing the 22-year-old’s performance as “magnificent” and praising him as a talented and likeable young man.
Stefanovic had confirmed before the awards that he would not attend despite being nominated for the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter, admitting it could have been a “tad awks” following his departure from Nine earlier this year.
Instead, he spent Logies weekend away from the spotlight – and, judging by his response, woke up on Monday considerably fresher than plenty of people who did make it to the ceremony.
As for being publicly roasted by Bambi?
Karl seems happy enough to let that one go.
Images: Seven Network
