The Today Show hit a tense snag this morning when co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson were pulled into an discussion about double standards.
The comments come only one day after a report by The Australian revealed that Stefanovic earns 2.5 times the salary of Wilkinson.
This morning’s snag came after the panelists viewed photos of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark shooting a gun during training with the Danish Home Guard.
Stefanovic then suggested his fellow co-host had “double standards” for her positive response to the images.
“I’ve got something to say Lisa,” Stefanovic said. “I think you have completely double standarded yourself today. You’ve sold yourself out with Princess Mary. If that was a politician … an Australian politician you would flip your lid.”
Wilkinson seemed to have been caught off-guard as she pressed Stefanovic to explain himself further.
“Why?” She asked.
“Your anti-gun stance,” he said.
The one-line clarification was enough to allow Wilkinson to perform a triple axel of perfectly executed reasons why not only her stance is correct but why Princess Mary's is too.
“Hang on, she lives in Denmark which has certain issues,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson then briefed the panel and the audience on the specific duties required of the Danish princess.
“She’s a lieutenant in the National Guard and she’s about to become Queen. When you’re a royal and you’re running a country you therefore become chief of the army. She’s just following through. She’s not asking of her people what she wouldn’t do herself,” she said.
Fellow panelist Ben Fordham then jumped in to ease the tension.
“Lisa, in case you didn’t know, Karl lost the plot years ago so don’t worry about it," Fordham said.
“Very good point,” Wilkinson said. “Why am I even bothering to respond."
Stefanovic then made one final attempt at getting his point across.
“Well, double standards I say,” he said.
The details of the co-hosts contracts remain unconfirmed but the paper believes the co-host draws in around $2.5 million annually, compared to the $1 million contract Wilkinson agreed to in January.
Top Comments
Ah yes, like Queen Elizabeth is Colonel-in-Chief of the Australian Army. Somehow I don't think Mary is going to be leading the Dutch army into battle.
Especially because she is Danish and not Dutch.
This is why equality is taking so long. Because unintelligent men feel threatened by it and sit waiting for petty little opportunities to try to belittle women's efforts to seek fairness.
Thank goodness there are men who have done their homework and are intelligent enough to understand the reality of it for women. They see the research about how much better countries fare when women are educated and their talents utilised.
You mean thank god for men who agree with you?