Allison Langdon has shared what really happened the day Tracy Grimshaw disapproved of her.
An awkward interaction between Grimshaw and her A Current Affair replacement Langdon was caught on camera during a farewell to the veteran TV presenter that aired on Channel Nine late last year.
The former Today show host says she spoke to Tracy afterwards and they quickly resolved the situation.
“Trace sent me a great message very early that morning — which is good of her. I think the problem was she knew I was the new host – it hadn’t been announced yet – so she and I talked a lot,” Allison says. Stellar magazine.
“And I think she’s overwhelmed at the time because if you know Trace, she hates a fuss. So we all stand and cheer her on, and it wasn’t her favorite place to be,” she continued.
Allison Langdon has shared what really happened the day Tracy Grimshaw disapproved of her. Pictured in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine
And it was like, “Gee, wait a minute, if I give Ally a hug and then it cuts off [people might know she’s the new host]”.”
Allison admitted that she discussed the exchange with her Today show co-star Karl Stefanovic at the time and was a little embarrassed at first.
“I actually turned to Karl and said, ‘Trace just brushed me off.’ And he said, “No way.” Then he saw it the next morning and he said, “She didn’t just brush you; you had your arms open, like you were begging for a hug, and she ignored you,” Ally explained.
The incident occurred as Grimshaw completed her 17-year run as presenter of the show in November and was sent off with applause, hugs and well wishes from her Channel Nine colleagues as she left the ACA studio for the last time.
Footage of her farewell shows Grimshaw walking through a guard of honor and when Langdon goes in to hug her, she appears to reject the embrace.
An awkward interaction between Grimshaw and her A Current Affair replacement Langdon was caught on camera during a farewell to the veteran TV presenter that aired on Channel Nine late last year
Grimshaw walked right past Langdon, who had stretched out her arms for a hug
After hugging several members of staff, including Karl Stefanovic and Peter Overton, Grimshaw walked past Langdon who had her arms out for a hug.
Grimshaw brushed her brutally and seemed to shake her head before hugging Stefanovic.
Afterwards, Langdon spoke on the Today show about the awkward moment, admitting she “didn’t get much sleep” after the incident.
“That breaks my heart,” Langdon said, watching the clip.
‘I’m devastated. I mean, I turned to you at the time and said, “Tracy Grimshaw just brushed me.” When you get brushed by your hero, I must say it hurts.’
“Trace sent me a great message very early that morning — which is good of her,” Allison tells Stellar Magazine
Stefanovic said Grimshaw wrote a statement and apologized to Langdon for snubbing her in the honor guard.
“Ally, I just watched last night’s guard of honor and I saw you go in to give me a hug,” Grimshaw said in her statement.
“And I hugged damn Karl! I’m sorry I missed you. I was so overwhelmed and clearly lost sight of your petite head as his large boofhead loomed into view. Big sorry.’
“Ah relief!” Stefanovic sighed and described the moment as one of the “biggest snubs on Australian television.”
In September last year, the veteran presenter announced she was quitting A Current Affair, later revealing she planned to take a year off to improve her work-life balance.
Langdon took over as current affairs show host in January 2023.
Find out more in this week’s Stellar Magazine with Allison Langdon on the cover