- Do you know more? Email: lucy.manly@mailonline.com
A popular TV presenter regarded as the ‘golden boy’ of Fox Sports has been dumped by his reporter girlfriend after he received a late night phone call from a female colleague.
Seven News reporter Grace Fitzgibbon was left ‘devastated and heartbroken’ when her boyfriend of three years Jake Duke received the call in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A source close to the couple told Daily Mail Australia that Duke, 30, received the call ‘in the wee hours of Saturday morning’ from New Zealand-based rugby sideline reporter Tiffany Salmond.
The late night call prompted Fitzgibbon, 31, to end the three-year-long relationship and leave the couple’s apartment in Freshwater, on Sydney’s northern beaches.
In a move that sparked rumours in TV circles, Fitzgibbon briefly posted an image of her possessions heaped in cardboard boxes at the weekend.
Jake Duke and Grace Fitzgibbon’s relationship imploded after he received a late night phone call from a New Zealand-based colleague
Tiffany Salmond called Jake Duke ‘in the wee hours of Saturday morning’ prompting his girlfriend to end their three-year-long relationship
Their split comes just days after the couple adopted a kitten named ‘Muffin’, with Fitzgibbon posting an image of Duke cautiously patting the feline.
‘Finally a cat mom… can’t stop won’t stop crying,’ the picture was captioned.
Both Fitzgibbon and Duke declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Wrongdoing isn’t suggested by Duke or Fitzgibbon.
Salmond, 26, is a freelance sports reporter who made her debut for Fox Sports Australia last September.
Last year she worked alongside Duke during an NRL Warriors game in Auckland. Duke travels to New Zealand regularly to fulfil his NRL presenting commitments.
Salmond, who is based in Auckland, last week shared images of a trip to Sydney – including pictures of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and dining at Woolloomooloo wharf.
Salmond is an aspiring sports presenter based in Auckland. Above, together with Duke on the sidelines
Tiffany Salmond pictured in Sydney last week
Duke and Fitzgibbon, who live together in Freshwater, recently adopted a kitten named Muffin
‘I have a background in journalism, reporting and producing with a passion for sports broadcasting and rugby league,’ her LinkedIn page said.
Duke was named ‘Sports Media Person of the Year’ at National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards.
He also hosts the Refuse to Lose podcast, a platform for athletes who ‘use their voice to change the world around them’.
Fitzgibbon is the daughter of Joel Fitzgibbon, a retired Labor frontbencher and former minister for defence and agriculture when Kevin Rudd was prime minister.
She previously worked for Nine News and is also a registered marriage celebrant.
Tiffany Salmond was approached for comment.
