Alex Cullen‘s departure from Nine’s Today Show has shocked industry watchers and angered fans, but legendary PR man Max Markson said it could be a blessing in disguise.
Cullen, 44, has parted ways with the Nine network amid the ongoing fallout from his acceptance of $50,000 from The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli for labelling the flashy entrepreneur by his self-appointed nickname ‘McClaren Man’ on air.
Markson, who has negotiated some of the biggest deals in Australian media, said Cullen will ‘bounce back’.
‘He’s already had a terrific career and will keep going on it,’ Markson told Daily Mail Australia on Friday.
‘He’s a great talent.’
Markson said he was not shocked by the sudden departure, which Karl Stefanovic announced on Friday morning.
‘As most of you are well aware, our colleague Alex Cullen has not been on air with us this past week,’ a solemn Stefanovic told viewers.
‘There has been widespread reporting on the circumstances surrounding this, what I can say is that last night, Alex and Nine agreed that he would finish with the network.
Nine Today show presenter and reporter Alex Cullen (pictured left with Australian Olympics breakdancer Racheal Gunn) has made a shock departure from the network
‘Alex has, of course, been part of the Today family for five years now, he’s always ready with a smile and a laugh and without hesitation speaking for all of us here, we can say that we are going to miss him terribly, that’s for sure.
‘Alex is a terrific fella, what you see is what you get and he has been a great mate to all of us over these years and we wish Alex, his wife Bonnie and his beautiful kids all the very best for the future.’
Markson stated that he couldn’t recall any recent instances where a media personality was fired for accepting a payment not approved by their employer.
Asked about where Cullen might work next, Markson said there was no shortage of options.
‘He’s talented he will get another job it won’t be a problem,’ he said.
Another media insider suggested Portelli may even offer Cullen a job.
Veteran media wheeler and dealer Max Markson (pictured right with Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg) said Cullen should have no problem finding a new TV gig
Cullen parted ways with the Nine network amid the ongoing fallout from his acceptance of $50,000 from The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli. (Pictured: Today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo)
The saga started last week Portelli posted on social media he had grown tired of his long-used nickname the ‘Lambo Guy’ and offered the cash reward to the first person to use his new moniker on air.
Cullen, who was reporting from the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne, obliged on the Today Show on Friday.
Portelli then posted what appeared to be a bank transfer of $50,000 to the presenter leading Nine to announce they had suspended Cullen from broadcasts and that the money was being returned.
Accepting cash, gifts or benefits to undermine journalistic independence, and improperly using a journalistic position for personal gain, are breaches of journalism’s code of ethics as defined by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union.
The Today presenter, 44, was given 50,000 after he was the first media personality to use Portelli’s self-applied nickname ‘McLaren Man’ live on air. Pictured: Cullen
Adrian Portelli said he had grown tired of his long-used nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ and offered the cash reward to the first person to use his new moniker on air, with Cullen obliging on the Today Show on Friday
Cullen’s departure from the Today Show went ahead despite Portelli’s claim that Cullen intended the money to be paid to charity all along, and posted details of $25,000 payments made on his behalf to both the Salvation Army and the RSPCA.
‘Alex Cullen… on behalf of you, mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA,’ Portelli wrote on Instagram.
‘I’ve kept pretty quiet about what unfolded with Alex, but even before he’d heard from Ch9, we had a conversation where he expressed his desire to donate the money.
‘That speaks volumes about his character. Alex, you’re an absolute gentleman.
‘If Ch9 let you go (though I really hope they don’t!), I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you on something. True class, mate!’
Portelli first received the unwanted nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ after turning up to a 2022 auction of popular house makeover show The Block in a yellow Lamborghini.
On Tuesday, Portelli also defended Cullen and claimed he intended the money to be paid to charity, posting details of two $25,000 payments made to the Salvation Army and the RSPCA
Many Aussies unleashed about Cullen’s departure.
‘Wow, that was a crazy move by Nine. Alex was a breath of fresh air,’ one said.
‘Alex was the only one on the morning show that was natural and didn’t spend the whole time talking over someone, giggling like little school kids,’ a second added.
‘Channel Nine have lost the plot. I doubt for one second that Alex was ever going to keep that money – he is not an idiot! Hope he gets snapped up very quickly.’
A third said: ‘Alex is a lovely family man just working hard to support his family. Alex is such an asset to the Today show and Channel Nine.’
A forth added: ‘Hope Alex turns up on Sunrise – that’s what I’ll be watching now.’
