Channel 9 sports presenter Danika Mason was seen without her engagement ring as she bravely turned up to work and fronted cameras despite calling off her engagement to Todd Liubinskas, three weeks out from their wedding.
The host, who had planned to get married in October, continued to fulfil her professional commitments over the weekend, including her network’s coverage of the NRL’s grand final qualifiers, before news broke of the couple’s cancelled wedding on Monday.
On Friday night, Mason was seen smiling at the camera as she interviewed Penrith Panthers’ Stephen Crichton while he celebrated his team’s win over Melbourne Storm.
“I’ve come all the way up into stands because Stephen Crichton has quite the support around him,” she told the camera, as she gestured to Crichton’s overjoyed friends and family members.
The following day, Mason appeared on screens again during the Broncos and Warriors’ preliminary final on Saturday night, where she was spotted without her engagement ring.
Mason has previously been seen wearing her diamond ring in a number of posts on social media, including one in June during Nine’s coverage of the State of Origin.
Mason and Liubinskas had made their last public appearance together at an event to launch the new BYD electric car and showroom in Alexandria, less than two weeks prior to the cancellation.
The news came as a surprise to many, including several media personalities who had received invitations to the event
Friends of Mason have described her as “beyond devastated” and “completely heartbroken”, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Mason and Liubinskas had been in a relationship for over three years and share a labrador named Charlie.
Liubinskas proposed to her in July 2021, sharing the moment on Instagram.
There has been no official statement from either Mason or Liubinskas regarding the cancellation of their engagement.
Mason has built a successful career at Channel 9, where she started as an intern in the newsroom in 2012 and rose to eventually host The Sunday Footy Show.
She also serves as a sideline reporter for NRL matches, and is part of the network’s Australian Open tennis coverage.
Liubinskas is involved in the fitness industry, working as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach.