Charlotte Foster
Relationships

"Disgusting to witness": Lisa Wilkinson discusses Karl's divorce

Lisa Wilkinson has discussed her former Today co-host Karl Stefanovic's public divorce from Cassandra Thorburn. 

In her new memoir, It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This, Lisa recounts how Karl was treated by the paparazzi after finalising the split from his wife in October 2017. 

Lisa recalled a particular incident at an airport where Karl was "goaded" by a pap about the reasons he and Cassandra had parted ways after 21 years of marriage. 

"At one airport, as we came through the security doors, I heard a pap continually goading him, 'Hey Karl, why did you leave your wife?'" she wrote.

Despite tensions between Lisa and Karl, she applauded Karl for his composure. 

"It was disgusting to witness, but Karl didn't flinch; he just kept walking. He refused to give them what they wanted – a blow-up."

"His restraint was extraordinary."

Lisa wanted to defend her co-host against the rude paparazzi, but Karl told her to calm down. 

"I, on the other hand, wanted to yell at them to back off, and it took every bit of strength I had in me not to."

"Sensing my fury, Karl just mumbled under his breath next to me, 'Don't react.'"

Karl met his current wife, shoe designer and former model Jasmine Yarbrough, just five months after his very public split from Cassandra in 2016. 

Image credits: Getty Images / The Project

Tags:
Relationships, Lisa Wilkinson, Karl Stefanovic, Cassandra Thorburn, divorce