Billionaire Adrian Portelli donates returned $50k from Today host Alex Cullen to charity
Billionaire Adrian Portelli has revealed what he did with the $50,000 returned to him by Channel 9 host Alex Cullen following an on-air stunt that left the presenter in hot water.
Portelli was offering the money to the first journalist to call him “McLaren Man” in the media, instead of his common but disliked nickname “Lambo Guy”.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Cullen, a host on Today, dropped the upgraded moniker on-air during a live cross on Friday morning, with Portelli quickly dropping the large sum of money into his bank account.
Nine quickly condemned Cullen’s actions, saying the money would be returned to Portelli and Cullen had stepped down in the meantime.
“Nine is taking this matter extremely seriously,” a spokesperson said.
“Appropriate action has been promptly taken, including arranging for the funds to be returned.
“While we review the circumstances in which this occurred, Alex has agreed to stand down.”
On Tuesday Portelli revealed he had chosen to donate the returned $50,000 to two charities on behalf of Cullen.
In a post on social media, the billionaire said Cullen was an “absolute gentlemen” and that he hoped Channel 9 would not fire him.
“Alex Cullen … on behalf of you, mate, $25,000 to the Salvation Army and $25,000 to the RSPCA,” Portelli wrote.
“I’ve kept pretty quiet about what unfolded with Alex, but even before he’d heard from Ch9, we had a conversation where he expressed his desire to donate the money. That speaks volumes about his character.”
Portelli then offered to work with Cullen in some capacity if he does end up losing his job.
Accepting cash, gifts or benefits to undermine journalistic independence, and improperly using a journalistic position for personal gain, are both breaches of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance Journalist Code of Ethics.
It was created by journalists in 1944 to promote basic values for the Australian media industry.
Cullen has not publicly commented on what happened, but recent posts on his Instagram have been flooded with comments of support from fans saying he was missed and that they would be boycotting Channel 9.
“Nine isn’t the same without you,” one person said.
“I stand with you Alex — you are the best,” another wrote.
He offered another cash prize to his Instagram followers for the “best comment” left on writer Fiona Byrne’s social media profile.
“Be respectful and use my real name,” he commented on a screenshot of the Herald Sun article.
“Once you disrespect me, I am going to put my foot down — they are subconsciously trying to degrade me by giving me this nickname, and I’m over it,” he wrote on his Instagram story.
Byrne’s social media accounts were then flooded with vile comments.
In an article on Monday in response to the abuse she received, Byrne described what happened to her as “a cyber battering”.
“It was disgusting, ugly, horrible and unwarranted,” she said.
“It made me feel unsafe, both online and in real life.”
She said Portelli was just a “billionaire having a tantrum over a nickname” and that she expected an apology.
“Directing your swarm of followers to bombard and abuse someone online for money is appalling,” Byrne said.
“This sort of targeted, deliberate online behaviour can have very serious real-world consequences — we have seen tragic examples of this in the past.”
Portelli has been contacted for comment through his company LMCT+.
Originally published on 7NEWS
