EXCLUSIVE: Today anchor Karl Stefanovic hits back at Sunrise hosts’ cheap shot accusing him of copying their campaign to help small businesses hit by COVID-19
Karl Stefanovic has hit back at his rivals at Sunrise after they accused him of copying a segment to help small business owners during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Today host announced his ‘Karl’s Classifieds’ initiative last month, the week after Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac launched what he called ‘Plugapalooza’.
Both segments were designed to promote small businesses hit by coronavirus by offering them a platform to advertise their goods and services for free.
Sam took a swipe at Karl’s Classifieds on March 26 when he began another Sunrise campaign called Healthcare Heroes to recognise medical professionals’ hard work during the pandemic.
Today host Karl Stefanovic (pictured with co-host Allison Langdon) has hit back at his rivals at Sunrise after they accused him of copying a segment to help small business owners during the COVID-19 crisis
‘We did Plugapalooza last week, Healthcare Heroes this week. You can see it next week on the Today show as well!’: Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac took a swipe at Today show host Karl Stefanovic for ‘copying’ his coronavirus campaign’
During a live cross, the Gold Logie-nominated presenter read aloud supportive messages for medical staff submitted by grateful members of the public.
He then told hosts David Koch and Natalie Barr: ‘We did Plugapalooza last week, Healthcare Heroes this week. You can see it next week on the Today show as well!’
David and Natalie burst into laughter back in Channel Seven’s Sunrise studio.
‘That did surprise us… Anyhow. Imitation is the greatest form of flattery,’ David said before moving on to another news story.
Karl said he had been unaware of Plugapalooza before launching Karl’s Classifieds and had not heard of the segment until told about Sam and David’s comments by Daily Mail Australia.
‘I don’t know anything about it,’ Karl said of Plugapalooza. ‘That’s the first time I’ve heard of it.
‘What I’d say is people can be competitive if they want to be in times like this.
‘But at the end of the day I think we should all be doing what we can, if it’s Sam Mac’s idea or if it’s Sarah Harris’s idea on Channel 10 or Mel Doyle’s idea on Channel 7.
‘I’m not doing it for notoriety. I’m doing it to try and help people – that’s where it comes from.’
The Gold Logie winner said Karl’s Classifieds, which he continued to promote via Facebook and Instagram, had been a successful and satisfying project.
‘The response has been incredible,’ the 45-year-old said. ‘It’s a huge worry this virus to small businesses.
Karl Stefanovic (left, with co-host Allison Langdon) launched his Karl’s Classifieds initiative to promote businesses doing it tough amid coronavirus shutdowns and social-distancing measures
Is that really necessary? Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr (left) and David Koch (right) chuckled as Sam joked that his latest campaign would be appearing on Today the following week
‘I think there are five million small businesses around Australia and they don’t have the attention and the money that a lot of other businesses have and they’re right in the firing line with this COVID-19.
‘So whatever I can do to try and help give them a little bit I will. I think it’s time for people like me with profile to try and do whatever we can to help people through this.
‘The next couple of months are going to be difficult but I think if we can be there it’s what we need to be doing.
‘I see it as a job. Obviously I’ve got a job with Channel Nine but it’s more than that. This is a responsibility to the Australian people.
‘I have a profile, so I should do something with it and I implore every person in the country who’s got a profile to do the same to help in whatever capacity you can.’
‘At the end of the day I think we should all be doing what we can,’ Karl said. ‘If it’s Sam Mac’s idea or if it’s Sarah Harris’s idea on Channel 10 or Mel Doyle’s idea on Channel 7.’ Sam is pictured