Alex Cullen breaks his silence on shock sacking from Channel Nine: 'It was the toughest week of my career'
The Today show reporter was sacked by the network after he accepted a $50,000 gift from The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli for calling him 'McLaren Man' live on air.
Reflecting on the incident with Stellar this week, the journalist said it was the most difficult moment of his working life.
'It was the hardest, toughest week of my career by a country mile,' he said.
'You are in the eye of the storm. You're the front page of the Herald Sun.'
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When asked, with the benefit of hindsight, if he was glad he was let go, Alex said that he hadn't quite decided.
'I haven't quite come to an answer on that yet,' he said.
Today host Karl Stefanovic made the announcement that Alex had parted ways with the network live on air in January.
'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, that's for sure.'
A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia at the time: '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 scandal kicked off when Adrian Portelli, growing tired of his long-used nickname 'Mr Lambo', offered a cash reward to the first person to use his new moniker, 'McLaren Man', on air.
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. The sum has been donated to charity by Portelli.
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.
Portelli 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!'
Following his departure from Nine, Alex picked up a new role in June, as a sports presenter on Melbourne 's Gold 1043.3's top-rating breakfast program The Christian O'Connell Show.
'Alex Cullen is a brilliant journalist who is looking for a job! You might recognise the name, he's the guy who took the $50,000... That's our guy!' Christian began.
Christian added the commercial radio sector had different rules than TV and so they were happy to welcome Alex to their team.
'Now Channel Nine might go, "Listen, we can't have that", but commercial breakfast radio... we are very much up for payola! Don't worry Alex, you have found a home here, my friend,' he said.
Alex shared his excitement at joining the show in a statement.
'This is such an exciting next chapter for me,' he wrote.
'I actually started my career in radio, so to be coming back to it and joining a show that's so loved and so full of heart is a real thrill.
'I can't wait to be on air with Christian, Pats and Rio, and to get to know Melbourne – my family and I are thrilled to be making it our new home.'
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