Karl Stefanovic reportedly cut from ARN’s The Long Weekend

Karl Stefanovic’s mainstream media fallout appears to be widening, with reports that ARN Media is set to cut him from The Long Weekend after just two episodes.

Nine newspapers have reported Stefanovic is not expected to return to the weekly Gold radio show and vodcast with Eddie McGuire, after ARN made what industry sources described as a business decision to move on from the former Today host.

The reported decision follows Stefanovic’s immediate exit from Nine last week after backlash over his independent podcast interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Stefanovic did not appear on last Friday’s episode of The Long Weekend. McGuire told listeners Stefanovic would return this Friday for an exclusive interview about his departure from Nine, but Nine newspapers have reported that interview is no longer going ahead.

The Long Weekend launched only weeks ago as a weekly radio, audio and video format between Nine, Stan and ARN, built around Stefanovic and McGuire unpacking the week’s biggest stories ahead of the weekend.

At launch, ARN billed the show as a “groundbreaking radio, audio, and video event”, promising “unfiltered” discussion where “nothing is off limits”.

But the format has been overtaken by Stefanovic’s own no-holds-barred interview with Robinson, which triggered public backlash, advertiser risk concerns and his sudden departure from Nine.

The show had been positioned as a cross-platform play, airing on ARN’s Gold network and distributed across Nine and Stan platforms.

Stefanovic’s reported removal leaves the future of The Long Weekend unclear. McGuire hosted last week’s episode without him.

ARN has been contacted for comment.