Just one year into their $100 million 10-year contract, the hasty end to The Kyle and Jackie O Show has left listeners reeling.
The 27-year-strong co-hosts’ time on air together ended abruptly nearly three weeks ago, and it’s still unclear how the falling-out will be settled.
Both Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Kyle Sandilands have released statements, with the former also reportedly considering legal action against employer ARN for wrongful termination.
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Here’s a timeline of how the ongoing radio drama, described as “the biggest, most consequential bust-up in Australian media – ever”, has unfolded.
Friday, February 20
It all began with an on-air argument where Sandilands criticised Henderson for discussing the birth chart and astrological chart of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
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Sandilands shut Henderson down, saying he felt she’d been acting like a “drug addict” and was “off with the fairies.”
“Your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable,” he said.
“You’re not doing the rest of the job and everyone in this building has mentioned it to me.”
Henderson, clearly taken back by his criticism, said he was being “mean and nasty.”
After the confrontation, she told Sandilands, “there are so many things that you don’t do, and I would never bring them up, and I would never say what people say.”
She told him that if she was so “unworkable”, he should “get someone else.”
Monday, February 23
The following Monday, Henderson did not return to work.
During that morning’s episode of The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Sandilands told listeners his co-host would be taking a break for “a couple of days” to “gather her thoughts”.
However, on Tuesday, February 24 it was announced she would not be returning to the show for the rest of the week, and Sandilands said she would join him on air again soon.
Tuesday, March 3
Then came the bombshell: ARN, which operates KIIS FM, released a statement revealing Henderson had told the network she “cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands.”
“ARN has terminated the services agreement with Henderson Media Pty Ltd, under which Ms Henderson presents the Kyle and Jackie O show,” the March 3 statement continued.
The network also claimed Sandilands’ behaviour during the February 20 show was “an act of serious misconduct” and said he had been suspended and “given 14 days to remedy this breach”, with The Kyle and Jackie O Show taken off-air in the interim.
Wednesday, March 4
Kent “Smallzy” Small stepped in to host KIIS FM’s breakfast show, and opened with a statement essentially repeating ARN’s announcement.
“My name is Smallzy, and I’ve got a statement that I’ve been asked to read before we start this morning,” he said.
“So for our KIIS listeners, we’ve got some important news for you. Jackie has given notice that she can no longer continue to work on the show with Kyle on breakfast. As such, Jackie has officially left the show.
“Kyle has been given 14 days to remedy a serious breach of contract in respect of the show. He’ll not be on air during this time. If that does not happen, that contract will be terminated.
“That’s what I have been told and asked to read you.”
Friday, March 6
Henderson broke her silence with a statement on March 6, revealing she was “deeply saddened by the events of the past week.”
“There has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show,” she said.
“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.
“At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels,” Henderson added.
Tuesday, March 10
Sandilands then released a statement of his own, claiming “[I] said things I wish I had said differently.”
“I sent Jackie a message telling her I was sorry for anything I said that didn’t go down well, that I love her and care for her, and that I could have handled it better,” he said.
“Jackie and I have worked together for over 25 years. She is one of the most important people in my life. The idea that our partnership could end like this is devastating to me.”
Sandilands said ARN had told him to halt contact with his co-host in the wake of their on-air clash.
“The truth is that ARN terminated Jackie’s contract on the same day it accused me of a breach. It suspended me from work,” he added.
“All of this happened while I was being told to sit quietly and say nothing. That is not a genuine process.”
He stated he was still “committed” to his 10-year $100 million contract with ARN.
Wednesday, March 11
A source close to Sandilands claimed the two had now made contact with each other, telling the Sydney Morning Herald, “Both see it as it is: ARN jumping at the opportunity to try and save money.”
Friday, March 13
Henderson is reportedly considering legal action against ARN Media following her shock exit from the Kyle & Jackie O Show.
The Financial Review reports she is considering exploring a wrongful termination lawsuit in the wake of ARN’s statement to the ASX, which suggested she had walked away from her contract at KIIS FM.
Sources told the publication Henderson alleges ARN wrongfully terminated her contract and that she was not offered another show.
Now
ARN’s treatment of the fallout has left entertainment professionals speculating whether the company is pleased to end the co-stars’ eye watering contracts.
Though they may not ever work together on KIIS FM again, both Henderson and Sandilands are said to have promising podcast future to fall back on.