Alex Cullen confirms surprise new role after getting brutally fired from Today: ‘This is an exciting next chapter for me’
Alex Cullen recently announced his unexpected new position, nearly half a year since his termination from the Today show due to receiving a $50,000 present from questionable businessman Adrian Portelli.
In January, the presenter, who was 44 years old at the time, received a substantial amount of money following his on-air use of Portelli’s self-given nickname ‘McLaren Man’. This action set off a heated controversy that eventually led him to part ways with Channel Nine.
He currently holds a fresh position as a sports commentator on the popular morning show, The Christian O’Connell Show, airing on Melbourne’s Gold 104.3 FM.
Host Christian O’Connell confirmed the exciting news live on-air on Thursday.
Christian started by saying, “Alex Cullen is a renowned journalist on the hunt for a new opportunity! You might be familiar with him, as he’s the fellow who won that $50,000 prize… Yes, that’s the one!
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Christian was pleased to bring Alex aboard since the commercial radio industry operates under distinct regulations compared to television.
He stated, “Channel Nine could object by saying ‘We can’t allow that’, but commercial morning radio stations… We’re all in favor of receiving payments for playing songs! Rest assured, Alex, you have a place here with us.
Alex shared his excitement at joining the show in a statement.
‘This is such an exciting next chapter for me,’ he wrote.
As someone who kick-started their professional journey within the realm of radio broadcasting, stepping once more into this cherished world and becoming part of an adored, heartfelt program feels nothing short of exhilarating!
We’re absolutely excited to join Christian, Pats, and Rio on-air soon, and we can hardly contain our anticipation for exploring Melbourne as our upcoming home city with my family.
Next month, he is set to officially become part of the show, following Jack Post’s announcement of his departure from the series last month as Christian’s co-star.
This year, Alex was let go by the Nine Network following his acceptance of a $50,000 payment from The Block’s tycoon Adrian Portelli.
Today host Karl Stefanovic made the announcement that Alex had left the network live on-air.
It’s important to note that our colleague, Alex Cullen, hasn’t appeared on the show for the last week, as Stefanovic informed the audience somberly.
It’s been widely reported about the events leading up to this, and all I can share is that last night, Alex and Network Nine reached an agreement for him to part ways with the broadcasting company.
For five rewarding years, I’ve proudly been a cherished member of the Today family. With my unwavering enthusiasm, I’ve always greeted each day with a warm smile and hearty laughter. It’s not hard to express what we all feel here: our hearts will ache deeply as we bid farewell.
‘Alex is truly wonderful, open and sincere, and he’s been an exceptional friend to us all throughout the years. We extend our warmest wishes to him, his lovely wife Bonnie, and their adorable children as they embark on their future together.’
According to a representative from Channel Nine, they have come to an agreement with news presenter and reporter Alex Cullen that he will part ways with the network after a review of a recent event has been conducted.
The controversy began when Portelli, feeling bored with his frequent nickname “Mr Lambo,” decided to provide a financial incentive for someone to start using his freshly chosen alias on-air, which was subsequently done by Alex during the broadcast on the Today show.
Later, the businessperson from Block seemingly transferred $50,000 to the host via Instagram, as it seemed on the platform.
Violating journalistic integrity by accepting money, presents, or advantages that compromise impartiality, and exploiting a journalistic post for personal advantage, are both unacceptable actions according to the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance’s journalism ethics code.
Due to an unwise action, Alex was temporarily removed from his position at Nine and was absent from the show during the time they were looking into a reported payment issue.
Regardless of Portelli’s assertion that the money was meant for charity, Nine ultimately chose to separate from Alex.
As a diehard admirer of the intricacies within the media world, I can’t help but speculate about the incident involving Alex and the network. Insiders suggest that if Alex had communicated to the promoter, as a journalist, his inability to accept payment for on-air comments, this strategic move could have served both the network and Portelli quite favorably.
In the year 2022, I was bestowed an unexpected moniker, ‘Mr Lambo’, upon my arrival at the auction for the renowned home renovation series, The Block, in a vibrant yellow Lamborghini.
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2025-06-19 02:51