The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli has vowed to find a job for recently axed Channel Nine star Alex Cullen, after the Today show presenter was let go from the network for accepting a $50,000 gift from him.
The wealthy entrepreneur, 35, recently shared a photo to Instagram in which he revealed he had donated Cullen’s $50k to a charity on his behalf – and extended a surprising offer to the presenter.
‘Alex Cullen… on behalf of you, mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA,’ Portelli wrote next to a screenshot of the bank receipts.
‘I’ve kept pretty quiet about what unfolded with Alex, but even before he’d heard from Nine, 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 Nine let you go I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you on something. True class, mate!’
Portelli also shared to his Stories that he had ‘positions available’ in Melbourne for content creators and videographers, hinting at what roles might be available to Cullen.
The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli (pictured) has vowed to find a job for recently axed Channel Nine star Alex Cullen, after the Today show presenter was let go from the network for accepting a $50,000 gift
It follows reports that Cullen has been axed from the Nine Network after he accepted $50,000 from Portelli.
The Today presenter, 44, was given the sizeable sum after he was the first media personality to use Portelli’s self-proclaimed nickname ‘McLaren Man’ live on air last week – sparking a firestorm.
Today host Karl Stefanovic made the announcement that Cullen had left the network live on-air 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.
‘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, for sure.
‘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.’
A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Nine has agreed with Today presenter and journalist Alex Cullen that he will finish with the network following a review into a recent incident.’
The wealthy entrepreneur, 35, recently shared a photo to Instagram in which he revealed he had donated Alex Cullen’s (pictured) $50k to a charity on his behalf – and extended a surprising offer to the presenter
‘Alex Cullen… on behalf of you, mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA,’ Portelli wrote next to a screenshot of the bank receipts
The scandal kicked off when Portelli 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 last Friday.
The Block entrepreneur then posted what appeared to be a bank transfer of $50,000 to the presenter on Instagram.
Accepting cash, gifts or benefits to undermine journalistic independence, and improperly using a journalistic position for personal gain, are both breaches of the journalism code of ethics as defined by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union.
The ill-advised stunt led to Cullen being suspended by Nine and he did not appear on the show while the network investigated the payment.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Adrian Portelli for comment.
On Tuesday, Cullen resurfaced on social media to share a birthday tribute to his daughters on Instagram.
During his absence from the Today show, Cullen has been replaced by Clint Stanaway, who is reporting live from Melbourne for Nine’s coverage of the Australian Open tennis.
Nine’s parting of ways with Cullen went ahead despite Portelli’s claim that Cullen intended the money to be paid to charity all along.
Network insiders also told Daily Mail Australia that the stunt could have been beneficial for the network and Portelli, if Cullen had advised the promoter that, as a journalist, he was unable to accept any payment for making the comment on-air.
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.
Cullen joined Today for its relaunch five years ago. He was initially solely the sports presenter, but took over news when Tracy Vo quit the show and returned to 9News Perth.
Portelli also shared to his Stories that he had ‘positions available’ in Melbourne for content creators and videographers, hinting at what roles might be available to Cullen
