Opinion
4 April, 2026
Show’s over, but does anyone really care?
Most people have already tuned out to the Kyle Sandilands/Jacki ‘O’ Henderson Kiis FM circus. The show – quite literally – is over. It’s time to move on.
Most people have already tuned out to the Kyle Sandilands/Jacki ‘O’ Henderson Kiis FM circus.
The show – quite literally – is over. It’s time to move on.
One very small adjustment to your radio dial and it’s done.
Unfortunately, television viewers will have to put up with Sandilands’ boorish behaviour for a few more days at least as one of the hosts on Channel 7’s popular Australian Idol talent program.
It remains to be seen whether Sandilands has done enough damage to his own brand (and through association to the Australian Idol/Channel 7 brand) to lose his spot on the judging panel next year.
If there’s room on the judging panel for someone who consistently shows callous disregard for human emotion, I guess Kyle’s their man.
Just throw in a few more shots of Kyle shedding tears over his poverty-stricken childhood – or a much richer Kyle fawning over his young son – and maybe we’ll all think he’s not such a bad guy after all.
But back to the debacle that captured the nation’s interest (and front page headlines) for a couple of days at least.
What was it all about again?
Exactly.
To cut a long story short, Kyle got a little nasty when Jacki ‘O’ started talking about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and astrology.
Jacki ended up in tears and went on leave.
Both retreated to the privacy of their own homes and we spent days learning from national media outlets about what may or may not have been delivered by DoorDash.
Because that apparently constitutes a story when you have absolutely nothing else to work with and your bosses are sick of rehashing the same thing over and over again.
Of course we were told that Kyle was extremely apologetic – and that he wished he had said things differently – but he couldn’t apologise to Henderson in person because he had been told by his employer, Kiis FM’s parent company Australian Radio Network (ARN), that he wasn’t allowed to contact his former co-host.
Henderson’s contract with ARN was reportedly torn up on the same day Sandilands was suspended from work for serious misconduct and asked to show cause why his contract shouldn’t also be shredded.
And of course we’re not talking about your average contract here.
The 10-year deal signed in November 2023 for The Kyle and Jacki O Show to remain with Kiis FM until 2034 was reportedly worth around $200 million – guaranteeing each of the hosts roughly $10 million a year.
It was the richest and possibly most ludicrous contract in Australian broadcasting history
Sandilands started legal action against ARN shortly after his contract was also terminated.
Basically, he is arguing that termination of his contract was invalid because there was no act of serious misconduct or breach of contract.
He is seeking to be reinstated and paid under the terms of his agreement.
Now Henderson has also taken legal action against ARN, claiming that she sent a formal complaint to the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) – the ARN subsidiary that holds the Kiis FM licence – stating that she could no longer work with Sandilands and raising concerns relating to psychosocial health, safety and alleged bullying.
She is basically arguing her contract was terminated because she exercised – or attempted to exercise – her workplace rights and is seeking at least $82.25 million in compensation along with penalties, interest and costs.
Now one of the richest deals in Australian broadcasting history is about to turn into one of the biggest (and possibly the most expensive) legal battles in Australia media history.
Reputations, relationships and careers will almost inevitably be destroyed as the whole sorry saga plays out on the courtroom floor.
If nothing else – and regardless of what actually happened in this particular case - at least it will help shine a light on workplace health and safety and serve as a valuable reminder to employees and employers everywhere that workplace health and safety is a fundamental right no matter where you work or what you do.
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