In recent weeks, Jackie “O” Henderson has taken a break from her morning radio show with Kyle Sandilands following an on-air dispute.
However, what was initially a week-long break was extended, with Kyle saying it might last longer.
But the winds shifted when ARN released a statement that the Kyle and Jackie O show was cancelled. Furthermore, ARN, the parent company of KIIS, announced that they had “terminated” their agreement with Jackie, but they offered her the “possibility of an alternative show on the ARN network”.
The news is different for Kyle. In the market announcement shared by Mumbrella, ARN has indicated it may cease working with Kyle unless he remedies his breach of contract.
“ARN has also provided written notice to Mr Kyle Sandilands and Quasar Media Services PTY LTF (Quasar Media) stating that it considers that Mr Sandilands’ behaviour during the show on 20 February 2026 is an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN’s services agreement with Quasar Media, under which Mr Sandilands presents the Kyle and Jackie O show. Mr Sandilands has been given 14 days to remedy this breach. If it is not remedied, ARN will terminate the services agreement with Quasar Media, and in that event, Mr Sandilands will cease to present the Kyle and Jackie O show.”
It ended by stating that the KIIS breakfast show will be taken off the air immediately.
But what happened on 20 February?
During their breakfast show, Kyle said that Jackie was unprofessional and it had been an issue for months. Specifically, he cited her “fixation” with astrology and star signs as “almost unworkable”. He went on to say he’s been “tiptoeing” around the issue for weeks.
“It’s too much,” he said on the show. “It’s affecting everything else. You’re too fixated on it. Every segment, every time you’ve spoken, you’re off with the fairies, you don’t even know what’s going on.”
“You can enjoy that, but you can’t take over your whole life.”
The two were a year into a historic radio deal worth $200 million, which they signed in November 2023.
The pair are still prominently placed on their parent company’s website.
Jackie O releases a statement
Following the announcement from ARN, Jackie O released a statement to Nine.com.au.
“Over the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show,” she wrote in a statement. “I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign.”
“I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else. It has been truly heartbreaking to see how this has unfolded. At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels. “Thank you to everyone who has sent kind messages of support during what has been an incredibly challenging time.”
Kyle Sandilands breaks silence
After missing five episodes, Kyle returned to his judging gig on Australian Idol on Monday, 9 March. During the show, he made a comment after one of the singers sang ‘With a Little Help From My Friends.”
“Great performance, great song choice, beautiful delivery and a great message,’ Kyle said in response to contestant Charlie Moon’s performance. “We all need to get by with a little help from our friends.”
“This week has been tough for me. I had a falling out with a very close friend,” he added.
While he was away from the show, former winner Jessica Mauboy stepped in. The production never addressed his absence.
Former contributor to the Kyle and Jackie O Show, Beau Ryan, weighed in on the news on his own morning show on Triple M, Beau, Cat & Woodsy.
“I never like it when people lose their jobs,” he said on the show. “I owe a lot to Jackie O – she gave me a start in breakfast radio – and I worked very closely with Kyle. I’m very good friends with both of them.”
“It feels like there’s more to the story,” he continued, as the two have been so closely attached for years.
ARN hosts The Australian Women’s Weekly Love Stories podcast.
