Karl’s COVID breakdown: Depressed Today host goes off-script and apologises to viewers for being a ‘downer’ before admitting he can’t pretend to be happy on live TV anymore amid ongoing lockdown
Karl Stefanovic had a breakdown on Friday’s Today show after discussing the ongoing Covid crisis in Australia all morning.
The breakfast TV star, 46, apologised to viewers before going completely off script and admitting he ‘so over’ the ongoing lockdowns.
‘I’m sorry, I know I’m supposed to be on breakfast TV and all happy and stuff, but it’s just not a happy time,’ Stefanovic griped.
Over it: Karl Stefanovic had a breakdown on Friday’s Today show after discussing the ongoing Covid crisis in Australia all morning
With fill-in co-anchor Sophie Walsh looking visibly uncomfortable, Karl continued, ‘And I want to go to the [MCG], I want to have three meat pies and 45 schooners and watch the AFL grand final.’
‘I don’t want to see it moved to Perth. I want games back at the [MCG], I want normal life.’
‘I’m really upset,’ concluded the Gold Logie winning TV personality.
A broken man: The breakfast TV anchor, 46, apologised to viewers before going completely off script and admitting he ‘so over’ Australia’s ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns
Stefanovic and Walsh had spent much of the morning talking to experts about the ongoing pandemic, and it appeared to wear on the hosts.
The program began with Karl telling the audience he wished they had better news, ‘but we don’t, with 16 million Australians waking up to a harsh reality.
‘More than 60 percent of the country is now in lockdown.’
There was little good news for glum Karl, with every Nine correspondent and expert delivering more bad news to the besieged host.
Rant: ‘I’m sorry, I know I’m supposed to be on breakfast TV and all happy and stuff, but it’s just not a happy time,’ Stefanovic griped
Federal politics reporter Jonathan Kearsley told them about differing philosophies between state and Federal governments over a path out of lockdown.
‘The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday said those vaccines are crucial to ending lockdowns in her state,’ he said.
‘But Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it’s not that, it’s the effectiveness of the lockdown that should drive when it ends.’
More bad news: There was little good news for glum Karl, with every Nine correspondent and expert delivering more bad news to the besieged host. Pictured: Melbourne’s lockdown protests on Thursday
Later in the program, health policy consultant Professor Bill Bowtell only had more bad news.
The expert contended that a ‘ring of steel’ around Sydney and harder lockdowns were the only answers to NSW’s skyrocketing infection rates.
‘There’s got to be the curfew arrangements, the mask arrangements, the restriction of movement arrangements. We cannot vaccinate our way out of this crisis,’ said the Professor.
‘It’s bleak, isn’t it,’ said a dejected Karl.
Taking its toll: Stefanovic and Walsh had spent much of the morning talking to experts about the ongoing pandemic, and it appeared to wear on the hosts. Karl seen with daughter Harper earlier this week
No way out: Experts’ warnings of worse to come were delivered as Victoria entered strict stay-at-home orders starting 8pm Thursday – just nine days after residents were released from the previous lockdown. Pictured: an empty MCG
Bowtell’s warning came as Victoria entered strict stay-at-home orders starting 8pm Thursday, just nine days after residents were released from the previous lockdown.
The restrictions will last for at least a week and came after just eight ‘mystery’ cases with no known source were uncovered.
It marks the sixth time Victoria has been locked down, with state premier Dan Andrews telling weary residents he had ‘no choice’ but to act – despite Australia being one of just a few countries still pursuing a ‘zero Covid’ strategy.
Desolate: It marks the sixth time Victoria has been locked down, with state premier Dan Andrews telling weary residents he had ‘no choice’ but to act
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