Karl Stefanovic appears to have admitted he struck Michael Clarke in a park in January 2023 during the infamous Noosa Brawl between the cricketer and his ex, Jade Yarbrough.
At the time, extraordinary footage emerged of the cricket star, 44, and former Today host, 51, embroiled in a heated late-night exchange in Noosaville.
The clash, which was over Clarke’s ex-girlfriend Pip Edwards, dominated headlines, with unconfirmed speculation that Stefanovic may have hit the cricketer.
Now, Stefanovic appears to have confirmed the reports with an offhand comment made during a Friday night dinner hosted by the Prince Alfred Old Collegians Association last week, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.
During the hour-long speaking appearance in South Australia, Stefanovic is said to have spoken at length about his shock exit from Nine following his controversial interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
He reportedly joked about being shocked it was his new podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, that got him axed, rather than his 2023 fight with Clarke or his drunk on-air antics after the 2009 Logies.
Karl Stefanovic appears to have admitted he struck Michael Clarke in a park in January 2023 during the infamous Noosa Brawl between the cricketer and his ex, Jade Yarbrough. Pictured together in 2015
‘This latest incident… in context it is so difficult for me to actually understand it in some ways. I am learning from that and I will continue learning from that,’ he said.
He then joked: ‘But it felt all right hitting Clarkey though.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Stefanovic for comment.
Three years ago, the infamous Noosa Brawl made headlines, when footage of the shocking January 10 incident emerged after it was obtained by The Daily Telegraph from an onlooker.
Stefanovic and Clarke clashed while holidaying together with their respective partners, sisters Jasmine and Jade Yarbrough, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
All hell broke loose while the couples were having dinner at a beachside restaurant in Noosa with celebrity accountant mate Anthony Bell.
It’s understood the melee was over Clarke’s ex-girlfriend, high-profile fashion designer Pip Edwards, and messages between the pair.
The dramatic footage showed a shirtless Clarke being screamed at and slapped by his furious girlfriend, Jade, as others in the group tried to defuse the fracas.
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At the time, extraordinary footage emerged of the ex sporting captain and former Today host embroiled in a heated late night exchange in Noosaville, involving Clarke’s girlfriend at the time and Stefanovic’s sister-in-law, Jade Yarbrough
During the exchange, Jade accused Clarke of sleeping with his ex-girlfriend Edwards on December 17 and messaging her to say she was the ‘love of his life’.
The video began with Jade screaming at Clarke before she slapped him in the face and pushed him away after the cricket legend claimed he had not cheated on her.
‘I’m wrong? I’m f***ing wrong! You’re a f***ing liar. I can see everything. You called her,’ Jade screamed, apparently referring to messages between Clarke and Edwards.
Clarke then tried to reassure Jade that he had not slept with Edwards on December 17 and claimed he had been with his mate Bell that night.
Stefanovic’s wife, Jasmine, eventually stepped in and grabbed her distressed sister by the arm and dragged Jade away.
Jasmine could be heard saying: ‘Get away with Karl, get away with Karl.’
As she is led away, Jade could be heard crying as she turned to Clarke and said: ‘I f***ing hate you.’
Clarke then tried to follow Jade before he unleashed a wave of fury at Stefanovic, shouting out the now-infamous line: ‘Karlos, I can tell you now c***, don’t you f***ing walk away. She can, she can punch me, but you, you c***,’ Clarke said.
The clash, which was over Clarke’s ex-girlfriend Pip Edwards, dominated headlines, with unconfirmed speculation spreading that Stefanovic might have hit the cricketer
The comment sparked fury from Jade, who defended her brother-in-law before slapping Clarke repeatedly in the face.
‘You piece of s***, don’t you f***ing speak to him,’ she yelled.
Stefanovic and his celebrity accountant mate Bell could then be heard telling the couple to stop, but their words fell on deaf ears.
‘Go, hit me, hit me… do it again, you’re wrong, you’re f***ing wrong,’ Clarke told his girlfriend.
Jade screamed: ‘Oh, am I wrong? You f***ed her [Pip] on December 17, you f***ed her… you’re a f***ing dog … I’m going to show her every f***ing message you ever f***ing sent me.’
She then made reference to a text she saw on Clarke’s phone inviting Edwards to come to India with him.
‘Oh yeah, you’re the love of my life, Pip, come to India,’ Jade said.
Clarke replied: ‘Don’t ever talk to me again.’
The two-minute clip ended with her sister Jasmine and Bell separating the feuding couple.
Following the incident, a remorseful Clarke took full responsibility for what happened.
‘I’m absolutely gutted I’ve put people I hold in the highest regard in this position. My actions in the lead-up to this altercation were nothing short of shameful and regrettable,’ he said at the time.
‘I am shattered that because of my actions I’ve drawn women of class and integrity, and my mates, into this situation.’
His former partner Edwards distanced herself from the ‘debacle’ as she issued a brutal swipe at Clarke when contacted by the Daily Mail.
‘This is not my circus. Yet again, Michael in his true nature has not taken responsibility for his actions and I was blatantly lied to,’ she said.
Clarke’s relationship with his former partner Edwards began in June 2020, following his split from wife Kyly Clarke, which they had announced four months earlier.
He and Edwards had been friends for more than a decade before that, but grew close while working on a fashion project together.
The couple called it quits in December 2021.
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