After being sensationally axed from the Today show— only to be replaced by her predecessor Karl Stefanovic— Georgie Gardner has been savagely trolled over her exit.
WATCH: Deborah Knight and Tom Steinfort give Georgie Gardner awkward send-off following news of Karl’s return
After news of the shake up made headlines over the weekend, one Twitter user weighed in on her departure claiming it was the Nine presenter’s fault the once-popular show’s ratings drastically plummeted after she took over from Karl.
“You got paid a sh** load of cash to maintain #9Today ratings, not to indulge in your progressive views. You failed dismally, trashing the shows rating. You got paid for failure and you now have attitude?” they wrote.
To make matter worse, the troll added a photo showing Georgie sitting beside Karl with the caption, “men are superior”.
Taking the moral high ground, Georgie simply replied: “I wish you well”.
She was later praised for her kind response, with one user Twitter follower calling her a role model.
“Ignore the haters. Thanks for being a wonderful role model to young Aussie women, including my two daughters. Such intelligence and grace. You’ll be missed,” a Twitter user wrote.
“Perfect response. Class act!” someone else wrote while another added: “You were the reason I watch Today… you have class. You’re all class, Georgie. Congratulations on your efforts. Here’s to your next chapter!”
On Monday morning, Georgie was noticeably absent from the breakfast program, leaving her co-host Deborah Knight to explain why she was missing. Along with fellow remaining presenter Tom Steinfort, Deb wasted no time addressing (somewhat awkwardly) Georgie’s sudden departure.
“We wanted to acknowledge our colleague and friend Georgie Gardner,” she told viewers. “You might have read over the weekend that Georgie has left the Today show. After a really challenging year we want to wish Georgie all the very best.”
Tom continued: “She has been a committed and passionate member of the team here. I think particularly when she’s been sharing the stories of every day Australians who are doing it tough; these are issues that she wanted to focus on.
“She has always been a woman of strength here, a woman of class, and also who could forget very wicked sense of humour that would just pop up from time to time as well.”
And in a perhaps unintentionally patronising statement, Deb ended the explanation by saying that Georgie “gave it a red hot go.”
“For now though, Georgie is enjoying the time with her family, friends, taking Wilbur the dog (for a walk) and we look forward to seeing you on our screens again very soon.”
After it was revealed Karl— who was dumped by the network during his honeymoon with his second wife, Jasmine Yarbrough— and Allison Langdon would front as the 2020 hosts, he opened up about Georgie’s departure, confirming the announcement was undeniably unexpected.
“I am as shocked about this as everyone else,” Karl told The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday. “It’s not something I thought would ever come up again. I thought my time was up, but then, when I was sounded out about it, it got me thinking. It’s a big job with enormous pressures and I know only too well some of those pitfalls, but it is also without question the best live TV job in Australia.”
Georgie has since spoken out about the shock move.
“I was consulted two weeks ago about the future direction of the Today Show and naturally I’m disappointed with the outcome,” she told 9Now. “However I’m very proud to have been part of an innovative and progressive programming decision – the first female hosting duo in Australian breakfast television.”
While she says the transition will be difficult, she’s excited to catch up on some much-needed sleep!
“My plan now is to return to my first love, news, and to catch up on some sleep! I am grateful for the support and friendship offered by my Today Show colleagues on-air and behind the scenes and I am humbled by the unwavering loyalty and kindness of viewers.”
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