Comedian Arj Barker unexpectedly reveals he is getting DIVORCED live on the Today show… and his hilarious account of his separation leaves host Karl Stefanovic in stitches
American comedian Arj Barker unexpectedly announced he was getting divorced during a live TV appearance on Wednesday.
The 45-year-old was being interviewed on the Today show when host Karl Stefanovic innocently asked if his wife, Whitney, was joining him on tour in Australia.
In a surprising moment, Arj confirmed they were no longer together, before offering a hilarious account of their recent separation.
Unexpected: Arj Barker (right) unexpectedly announced his divorce live on the Today show on Wednesday – and his hilarious account of his separation left host Karl Stefanovic in stitches
The funnyman was promoting his new stand-up tour, Arj Barker Comes Clean, when Karl asked about his marriage.
He replied that he’d been married to Whitney, who is Australian, for three years.
But things took a turn when he said: ‘Karl, you may relate to this. Marriages go through so many different phases and I feel like we’re past this sort of “I love you, I need to be with you all the time” [phase].
‘And now we’re entering a phase where we’re like, “It’s so cool”… how do I put it? It’s like we’re rediscovering our individuality. Oh wait, divorce, that’s it.’
‘We’re rediscovering individuality’: The 45-year-old funnyman dropped the bombshell after host Karl Stefanovic innocently asked if his wife, Whitney, was joining him on tour in Australia
‘My wife and I sat down and both agreed she was leaving me’: Karl (left, with Allison Langdon) burst into fits of laughter when Arj reached his punchline
Karl – who separated from his first wife, Cassandra Thorburn, in 2017 after 21 years of marriage – suddenly burst into fits of laughter.
He was giggling so much that he struggled to breathe, before joking: ‘It sounds like I’ve been on the darts [cigarettes] for a week!’
Meanwhile, his co-host Allison Langdon was momentarily left speechless.
He can relate! Karl separated from his first wife, Cassandra Thorburn (left), in 2017
Arj added: ‘I mean, it is sad and I’m not going to discount that, but I know the people watching, the kind people, are concerned about Arj. Don’t worry about me.
‘I want everyone to know this: the decision to end our marriage was completely mutual. My wife and I sat down and we discussed it at length… and finally we both agreed she was leaving me.’
At that moment, Karl’s laughter went into overdrive and he started keeling over and turning bright red.
Happily ever after! He remarried Jasmine Yarbrough (right) in December 2018
Without going into detail, Arj admitted he’d made his ‘fair share of mistakes’ in his marriage.
He then appealed to Karl, whose own divorce and subsequent marriage to Jasmine Yarbrough have rarely been out of the headlines.
‘Karl, you can relate to the pain man, it’s life,’ he said, to which the Today host replied sincerely: ‘The pain is real.’
Tickets for Arj Barker Comes Clean are now on sale, with $2 from each sale going towards the Bushfire Appeal
Coming soon! Tickets for Arj Barker Comes Clean are now on sale, with $2 from each sale going towards the Bushfire Appeal
