Karl Stefanovic Talks About Sexism, Stoner Humour And That Suit

Presenter wants woman to be judged for what they're saying, not what they're wearing.

Today show host Karl Stefanovic knows his biggest fans are on the internet.

BuzzFeed News Reporter Mark Di Stefano with Karl Stefanovic, his suit and a random pair of shorts.

Backstage, straight after filming another edition of the Today show this week, Stefanovic told BuzzFeed News: "A lot of stoners tend to find what I do funny and look I embrace it. Get on it guys, do whatever you need to do to have a laugh."

"If I'm laughing at something then some viewer out there in some obscure part of the internet will be laughing as well... *silence*... Fuck that was a good point mate," he says with a smile and a mocking cock of his head.

It's the trademark Stefanovic piss-take that comes at the end of almost every answer.

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The 40-year-old Australian has won global fame with vintage hits like his attempt to crack jokes with the Dalai Lama, and his surrealist interview with Grumpy Cat.

But it was a social experiment, wearing the same blue suit every day for a year to expose the sexist blind-spots of the public, that has seen him gain unexpected fans.

"The reason I haven't done too many interviews about it is because I don't need to be part of the discourse surrounding whether or not it is sexist. That's not up to me," Stefanovic told BuzzFeed News.

The Today Show @TheTodayShow

.@karlstefanovic's been wearing the same suit for the past year to prove this point: http://t.co/jFQcLM9H12 #Today9

01:01 AM - 16 Nov 2014

“I just think that the way that women are treated, differently to men it’s abhorrent and shouldn’t happen.”

Stefanovic let slip about his blue suit experiment to a reporter from a reporter from The Age in a Melbourne coffee shop. Within days news outlets around the world were covering the story, and feminist groups had applauded Stefanovic for demonstrating the double standards directed towards Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson.

BuzzFeed

“Debate is what affects change. I hope that out of all of this that there are female anchors around the world who are judged more on what they are saying, than what they are wearing.”

Up close, the blue Burberry suit doesn't have a smell but it is marked with stains. A shiny Queensland flag pin sits on the lapel and his pants sport spotted, faded marks that have avoided all cleaning attempts.

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“Look at the stains on it bro! There are some very dodgy stains. We don’t need CSI to be casting any of their equipment over this.”

Stefanovic is parting with the suit. It's been put up for auction on eBay with all proceeds going to the anti-domestic violence advocacy group, the White Ribbon Foundation.

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The suit's auction on eBay will close this chapter on the internet’s love affair with Stefanovic.

BuzzFeed News suggested the presenter's global popularity could be worked into a job hosting on US television.

"The question is, could America handle something as loose as me? I look at that show, Duck Dynasty and I think yes. I'd walk on with my shot-gun and my kazoo and call some ducks and fire some shots across the bow."

Here was Stefanovic turning everything into a joke again.

"But I don't think they'll be calling on Karlos anytime soon."

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