Queensland radio host Henry Bretz claims Karl Stefanovic blocked him on social media after his parody videos of the former Today show host went viral.
Bretz, 30, who co-hosts the Sunshine Coast’s MIX FM Drive with Sam ‘Archie’ Arenson, has been posting his impressions of Stefanovic, 51, since earlier this year and has attracted millions of views.
Despite initially showing support for Bretz’s clips, even liking the comedian’s first video and giving him a follow, Stefanovic appears to have stopped seeing the funny side, and Bretz thinks he has blocked him.
“He followed me after my first video, and he actually liked the first video,” Bretz told The Daily Telegraph.
“Then the next day I posted another video that was maybe a little sharper in its criticism of him, and he unfollowed me after that.”
The radio star also noticed that he is now unable to view Stefanovic’s Instagram page, which his pals have said “means I’ve been blocked”.
“Freedom of speech does have a ceiling, apparently,” Bretz quipped to the newspaper. “Honestly, if Karl could just stop working so hard, it would give me a chance to catch up as well.”
The Queenslander began his parodies in April after Stefanovic shared an Instagram video reminiscing about the “old Australia”.
The AI-generated clip featured a young Stefanovic going to school barefoot, eating Pizza Hut and enjoying outdoor pursuits, including cycling and fishing.
Since then, Bretz has had plenty of material for his parodies thanks to Stefanovic’s axing from Channel Nine and ARN.
Nine confirmed he would leave the network with immediate effect on June 26, after more than two decades with the channel and six months left on his contract.
“Nine Entertainment and Karl Stefanovic have agreed that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast,” a Nine spokesperson said.
“While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would leave Today at the end of this year, they have subsequently decided he will leave the Network immediately.”
In a YouTube video shared shortly after Nine made the announcement, Stefanovic declared he was “free” and “truly independent”.
“Sometimes I agree with everything a guest says, sometimes I don’t. But importantly, you get to make up your mind. You have the right to hear from different voices,” he said while sitting on a park bench in London.
“Freedom of speech, here and around the world, is what this show is about. You don’t have to listen to my show, you have the power. You are smart enough to make up your mind.”
Days later, ARN followed suit and dumped Stefanovic from the newly-launched The Long Weekend on Gold FM, which he hosted just two times with Eddie McGuire.
The weekly programme, which launched on June 12, will now be reframed around McGuire, alongside Georgia Love and Toni Tenaglia.