The former Today show presenter won’t be attending this year’s event despite being nominated in a major category.

Karl Stefanovic standing next to a Logie Award — Karl Stefanovic will not attend this year’s Logie Award to avoid an ‘awkward’ situation. (Getty)

Karl Stefanovic will not be attending this year’s Logie Awards despite being nominated in a major category.

The former Today show presenter is up for one of the most coveted gongs of the night: the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter.

But he’s up against some stiff competition, including from his own ex-on-screen partner Sarah Abo.

But the 51-year-old told The Daily Telegraph that he won’t be rubbing shoulders with Aussie TV and film royalty at this year’s event.

Karl said it would be a “tad awkward” to attend the Logies this year, and while he didn’t elaborate on that, it’s not hard to understand why.

Earlier this year, he and Channel 9 sensationally parted ways after more than two decades.

It came after the presenter interviewed far-right British activist Tommy Robinson for his independent podcast, which caused a lot of contention in Australia and with his employer.

After much speculation, Channel 9 released a statement saying that Karl would leave the network immediately so he could focus solely on his external endeavours.

This all happened after he was nominated for his Logie Award, and Yahoo Lifestyle understands that it was up to Nine on whether that nomination should remain or be pulled.

It’s clear the former action was taken as his name is still in the running for the gong.

Karl has been a regular feature at the Logies and infamously turned up to work the following day in 2009 still in party mode.

He admitted years later that while it was normal to get “smashed” at the annual event and go to work, he didn’t realise the state he was in.

“I remember seeing it on Today Tonight and going ‘Oh god.’ I really was drunk, or at least I certainly looked and sounded drunk,” he recalled.

Karl Stefanovic’s Logies pitch for Sunrise host Nat Barr

The Daily Telegraph claimed that if Karl attended the glitzy event, he would have been seated at a table with his Channel 9 colleagues.

But Karl believed there should be someone else in his place: Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr.

“The woman is brilliant. And has been for years. She deserves to be in that company,” he told the newspaper.

But, as it stands, the current nominees for the Ray Martin Award are:

Ally Langdon: A Current Affair, The Great Debate and Election 2025: Australia Decides
David Speers: Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live and Insiders
Michael Usher: 7News and 7News Spotlight
Sarah Abo: Today
Sarah Ferguson: 7.30 and Australia Votes 2025: Election Night Live

The Logies will be held this Sunday, August 16, at The Star in Sydney.