Axed Today show reporter Alex Cullen has put up his Sydney home for rent.
Cullen, 44, who was sacked by Channel Nine after he accepted a $50,000 gift from The Block billionaire Adrian Portelli for calling him ‘McLaren Man’ live on air, has made the move after landing a new gig on The Christian O’Connell Show for Melbourne’s Gold 104.3.
Located in Summer Hill, 9km from the CBD, Cullen’s four-bedroom, two-bathroom property is currently listed at $1,700 a week and comes with a $6,800 bond.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Cullen had originally listed the home for $1800 last week.
Built in 1912, the Queen Anne Federation dwelling has been carefully maintained and boasts classic features including stained glass windows, patterned ceiling finishes and archways.
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Alex Cullen has put up his Sydney home for rent
Located in Summer Hill, 9km from the CBD, Cullen’s four-bedroom, two-bathroom property is currently listed at $1,700 a week and comes with a $6,800 bond
Built in 1912, the Queen Anne Federation dwelling has been carefully maintained and boasts classic features including stained glass windows, patterned ceiling finishes and archways
Highlights include timber flooring, original archways, decorative fireplaces and a wraparound verandah.
There’s also a well-appointed modern kitchen and a large backyard with a paved patio for alfresco dining.
It comes after Cullen was dismissed from the Today show for accepting a $50,000 gift from controversial Block bidder Adrian Portelli.
In January, the presenter was given the sizeable sum after he was the first media personality to use Portelli’s self-proclaimed nickname ‘McLaren Man’ live on air, which resulted in him leaving Channel Nine.
He has now secured a new role as a sports presenter on Melbourne’s Gold 1043.3’s top-rating breakfast program The Christian O’Connell Show.
Host Christian O’Connell confirmed the news during his show late last month.
Alex shared his excitement at joining the show in a statement.
‘This is such an exciting next chapter for me,’ he wrote.
Highlights include timber flooring, original archways and decorative fireplaces
There’s also a well-appointed modern kitchen and a large backyard with a paved patio for alfresco dining
‘I actually started my career in radio, so to be coming back to it and joining a show that’s so loved and so full of heart is a real thrill.
‘I can’t wait to be on air with Christian, Pats and Rio, and to get to know Melbourne – my family and I are thrilled to be making it our new home.’
He will officially join the show in July, after Christian’s co-star Jack Post announced his resignation in May.
Cullen’s exit from Nine was announced by Today host Karl Stefanovic live on air.
The scandal kicked off when Portelli had grown tired of his long-used nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ and offered the cash reward to the first person to use his new moniker on air, with Alex obliging on the Today show.
The Block entrepreneur then posted what appeared to be a bank transfer of $50,000 to the presenter on Instagram.
Accepting cash, gifts or benefits to undermine journalistic independence, and improperly using a journalistic position for personal gain, are both breaches of the journalism code of ethics as defined by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union.
The ill-advised stunt led to Alex being suspended by Nine, and he did not appear on the show while the network investigated the payment.
Nine’s parting of ways with Alex went ahead despite Portelli’s claim that the journalist intended the money to be paid to charity all along.
Network insiders also told Daily Mail Australia that the stunt could have been beneficial for the network and Portelli, if Alex had advised the promoter that, as a journalist, he was unable to accept any payment for making the comment on air.
Portelli first received the unwanted nickname ‘Mr Lambo’ after turning up to a 2022 auction of popular house makeover show The Block in a yellow Lamborghini.
