Kyle Sandilands has broken his silence on his radio divorce from Jackie O and the subsequent fallout from radio station ARN.
Industry insider Peter Ford says the subtext of the shock jock’s statement is just as revealing as his blistering words, arguing he’s not in breach of his contract as his bosses allege.
“He’s clearly saying, let me get back on air – I think he’s accepted that he and Jackie O are not going to be a team ever again,” Ford told 2GB’s Clinton Maynard on Tuesday.
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“And if you know much about Kyle, he’s like a real radio animal, he needs to be on the radio in the same way that Dracula needs blood.”
To that effect, Ford says even if Sandilands, 54, looses the lucrative $100 million contract he currently has with ARN, he’d likely be back on the airwaves elsewhere as soon as possible.
“You can sense that he’s very upset at the thought that he’s not going to be able to be a broadcaster, no matter what pay-out he may get or may not get, or may want,” Ford said.
“He wants to be on the radio and I think he will be again in the future. You’re not going to keep him away.”
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While Ford believes Sandilands’ statement, which paid tribute to his long-time co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, suggested the pair’s argument “could have been resolved differently” it makes it certain there’s no coming back from this.
“He’s not making any comment on Jackie O’s plans, or what legal case she may be going to present, [there] certainly is no suggestion they’re going into it as a team,” Ford said.
“Talk that was around today that they suddenly had kissed and made up and they wanted to get back on-air, I don’t I never put much credit in that whatsoever.
“I think there’s no question – as I understand it, Jackie O’s position has not changed at all, she doesn’t want to work with Kyle. I’m sure she wishes him well for the future, but she does not want to work with him again.
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“And if you look at that statement, I think it’s pretty clear that even Kyle has accepted that and recognised that, and basically now it’s every man for himself.”
Sandilands broke his silence earlier on Tuesday, a week after the exit of his co-host of 25 years, ending their record $200 million 10-year radio deal.
The 54-year-old told listeners “I miss you. I’ll be back” and reached out to Henderson via the public forum after being asked not to contact her, he revealed.
“I want to speak directly to my listeners, my colleagues and the public about what has been happening,” he wrote in the statement, released to nine.com.au.
“On 20 February, I had an argument with Jackie on air about something that had been bothering me for a while. I said things I wish I had said differently.
“That same evening, 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.
“I meant every word of that, and I still do. 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.”
Following Henderson telling ARN she could no longer work with Sandilands on March 3, he was suspended for two weeks for what the network labelled “serious misconduct” and gave him 14 days to remedy the alleged “breach of contract”.
“Despite what ARN says, I am not in breach of that contract,” Sandilands argued in his statement.
“I want to be on air. I want to be with my audience. I want to do the job I have done my entire adult life.
“I am asking ARN to do the right thing: honour our agreement and let me get back to doing what I do best – entertaining the people who have supported this show for more than two decades.”
On Friday, Henderson broke her silence, saying she “did not quit or resign” from the show.
“I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending,” she said.
“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.”
Unlike Sandilands’ statement, Henderson didn’t mention her co-host at all.
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