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Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic have reunited, two weeks after departure from Nine.

The friendship of former co-hosts Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic, who together hosted Today for more than 10 years, has been under scrutiny following Wilkinson’s shock departure from the show over a pay dispute.

She wasn’t earning as much as Stefanovic – a fact that ignited the gender pay gap discussion around the country. Channel Nine said they “could not meet Wilkinson’s expectations”, and Wilkinson left the network without being able to say goodbye to her loyal viewers.

Did Karl know of the difference in their incomes, people wondered, and what would happen to a 10-year partnership that has spanned countless early mornings and drastic personal upheavals?

Now, Wilkinson has sent a message to critics by posting an image of herself and Stefanovic at lunch, shutting down any suggestions of bad blood between them.

“The best lunch today with this guy,” her caption reads, alongside an image of the pair of them smiling, the Harbour Bridge in the background.

It’s the first time they’ve been seen together publicly since Wilkinson’s resignation.

A post shared by Lisa Wilkinson (@lisa_wilkinson) on

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Fans were quick to respond to the image, saying Wilkinson is “looking relaxed” and that she is missed in the mornings.

“So good to see .. friendship forever,” one person commented.

“Reunited at last! That must have been some conversation,” another said.

LISTEN: Should Lisa and Karl have discussed pay as a team? Post continues after audio. 

Wilkinson will be joining news and current-affairs program The Project at Channel 10 starting in January.

She will work alongside the show’s current hosts Carrie Bickmore, Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar, and she will also host The Sunday Project.