In breaking news this morning, Kyle Sandilands, the former co-host of the now-cancelled Kyle and Jackie O Show and judge on Australian Idol, has been terminated by ARN.
In its initial announcement to the market about the cancellation of the Kyle and Jackie O show, ARN stated that Kyle had 14 days to “remedy” his “act of serious misconduct”. This was alluding to an on-air disagreement with Jackie “O” Henderson. On 20 February, during their breakfast show, Kyle said that Jackie was unprofessional. Furthermore, he added that 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.
which was in breach of their services agreement.
That deadline was 17 March 2026. The following morning, ARN released a statement to the ASX that it had issued a termination notice to Kyle and his Quasar Media. However, Kyle does not accept the termination. He released a statement following ARN’s saying that it’s now “over to my lawyers.”
“I’ve got a contract until 2034. I’ve got rights under that contract. And ARN hasn’t honoured the contract.”
Furthermore, he wrote that he attempted to remedy the situation, “I’ve done everything ARN asked. I said, ” Put me back on air. I’ll work with Jackie. I’ll work with someone else. Whatever you need. Every single time — “no.” They weren’t interested. They didn’t want to fix this.”
Kyle and Jackie Henderson signed a historic ten-year contract with ARN in November 2023, worth $100 million each.
Following ARN’s notice on 3 March about the cancellation of the radio show, Kyle’s co-host, Jackie Henderson, also said that she was “blindsided” by the decision and was looking at working “through the appropriate legal channels.”
Kyle Sandilands full statement
ARN has just announced that they’ve terminated my contract.
I don’t accept it.
My lawyers told them last week this would be invalid. And guess what? It is.
Let me tell you what actually happened here. Jackie and I had a blue on air. That’s it. The kind of thing we’ve done a hundred times in 25 years. And ARN took the situation and decided to try and burn the place down. They sacked Jackie. They suspended me. They wouldn’t even let me pick up the phone to call her or anyone else on the show. Then — and this is the bit that gets me — once they’d made it impossible for the show to go on, they turn around and say, “You didn’t fix it. You’re fired!”
I said sorry to Jackie the night of our blow-up. And when I said I was sorry to Jackie, I meant it. I still mean it. But it doesn’t mean I will stand by while I am separated from the people who’ve listened to me every morning for 25 years.
Before they suspended me, ARN said, “Let us handle it,” and I listened. In the two weeks since, I’ve done everything ARN asked. I said, ” Put me back on air. I’ll work with Jackie. I’ll work with someone else. Whatever you need. Every single time — “no.” They weren’t interested. They didn’t want to fix this. They thought they saw a chance to get out of the contract they signed with me a year ago, and they ran with it.
ARN knew exactly what they were getting when they signed my deal. They’ve worked with me for over a decade. They knew how I work, they knew the show, and they were happy to pay for it — because I delivered. Number one ratings. Year after year. Hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for their business. I held up my end. I always have.
So, you tell me — why would ARN prefer to breach a contract and pay the legal consequences rather than honour the contract and pay me to do what I do best? That’s the bit that doesn’t make sense.
I’ve got a contract until 2034. I’ve got rights under that contract. And ARN hasn’t honoured the contract.
So, it’s over to my lawyers.
To the people who tune in every morning — you lot are the reason I’ve done this for 25 years. You didn’t get a say in this. Neither did I. But my lawyers will. I’m not done. Not by a long way.
Source: Mumbrella
ARN hosts The Australian Women’s Weekly Love Stories podcast.
