Karl Stefanovic has issued an apology to Tony Jones after mocking him over his awkward attempt to kiss Rebecca Judd.
The cringe-worthy moment aired on Nine News in 2016, and Karl, 45, played the clip on The Today Show last week when Tony, 58, appeared via video link.
Karl’s rehashing of the embarrassing incident appears to have ruffled feathers off set, as the TV host felt compelled to make a sombre apology to Tony on The Footy Show on Sunday night.
So sorry: Karl Stefanovic (pictured) has issued an apology to Tony Jones after mocking him over his awkward attempt to kiss Rebecca Judd
He said at length: ‘This is not easy for me to do, it is not often I will admit that I am wrong.
‘To the people of Victoria, but more importantly to the much loved Tony Jones himself, I say from the bottom of my heart I am truly sorry.
‘To use what many still refer to as one of Australian TV’s top five moments as a cheap gag for LOLs was juvenile.
He said at length: ‘This is not easy for me to do, it is not often I will admit that I am wrong.’o the people of Victoria, but more importantly to the much loved Tony Jones himself, I say from the bottom of my heart I am truly sorry’
No thanks: Tony (pictured) replied that he understood that the Today show did not know it was a ‘sore point’ for him but that he never wanted to see the clip again
‘Tony, I love you and I promise the Today show will never ever, ever ever play it again, at least while I am in the chair. ‘
Tony replied that he understood that the Today show did not know it was a ‘sore point’ for him but that he never wanted to see the clip again.
During the July 23rd episode of the Today show, Karl played the clip when discussing social distancing.
As he introduced it, Tony, who was on screen via a video link, began snapping: ‘Don’t even go there, Karl. Don’t go there. Don’t go there! Do not’.
Laughs: The cringe-worthy moment aired on Nine News in 2016, and Karl, 45, played the old clip on The Today Show on July 23rd when Tony, 58, appeared via video link
Tony looked upset after the clip aired and Karl tried to joked, ‘Oh come on TJ’.
However Tony replied sternly: ‘No, Karl, what you obviously don’t realise is there was a ban put on that footage’.
Concerned, Karl looked off camera, perhaps to a producer, and replied, ‘No I wasn’t aware of that’.
He tried to laugh it off before saying, ‘apologies to everyone out there… nah, it was worth playing the footage’.
As he introduced it, Tony began snapping: ‘Don’t even go there, Karl. Don’t go there. Don’t go there! Do not’
However Tony added sternly: ‘No, Karl, what you obviously don’t realise is there was a ban put on that footage’. Concerned, Karl looked off camera, perhaps to a producer, and replied, ‘No I wasn’t aware of that’
However, it appears Karl was later propelled to make that apology in earnest.
This comes after Tony vowed to ‘walk off set’ if Network Nine ever tried to broadcast the awkward and embarrassing footage again.
Speaking to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell in June, he said: ‘Neil, can I put this on the public record, your show is the most listened-to radio show in Melbourne right.
‘But I will say, if I see that played one more time at Channel Nine I will walk off the set. I do not want to see that kiss again.’
Awkward! The incident with Rebecca Judd (right) occurred on Nine News Melbourne in August 2016, when Tony attempted to give the AFL WAG a peck on the cheek before she went on maternity leave
‘Please find a reason to play it tonight and see if he walks off,’ he said.
The incident with Rebecca occurred on Nine News Melbourne in August 2016, when Tony attempted to give the AFL WAG a peck on the cheek before she went on maternity leave.
‘Good luck, Bec!’ he said, before leaning in. At that moment, the WAG instinctively pulled away and yelped, before bursting into fits of giggles.
Realising he had just been rejected on camera, Tony crossed his arms and grumbled, ‘OK, good, this is going well,’ as his face turned red.
Unfair: Tony has referred to repeated airings of the old clip as ‘unfair’ to both Rebecca (pictured) and himself