Kyle Sandilands has argued he is not in breach of his $100 million contract with ARN Media, after he was taken off air for “an act of serious misconduct” on his and Jackie “O” Henderson’s hit radio show.
Sandilands today released a statement calling on ARN Media, owner of KIIS FM, to “honour our agreement” and let him return to the Kyle and Jackie O Show.
“I have a contract with ARN that runs until 2034. I am committed to that contract,” he said.
“Despite what ARN says, I am not in breach of that contract.”
Last week, the network said it considered Sandilands’s behaviour during the show on February 20 “an act of serious misconduct” in breach of his contract.
During the February 20 show, Sandilands had an on-air argument with Henderson in which he described her “fixation” on horoscopes as making her “almost unworkable”, an exchange she described as an attack.
Sandilands called on ARN Media to “honour our agreement”. (Facebook: Kyle and Jackie O)
The tirade from Sandilands was prompted by a segment in which the pair discussed the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the United Kingdom.
Henderson had shown interest in looking up the former prince’s horoscope.
In an ASX announcement last Tuesday, ARN Media said Henderson had “given notice” she could not continue to work with Sandilands.
Henderson later denied she had quit the show.
“Ms Henderson will cease to present the Kyle and Jackie O Show,” ARN Media’s statement said, confirming the show would be taken off-air “effective immediately”.
A suspended Sandilands was given 14 days to “remedy this breach” or “cease to present” the show.
Sandilands says he apologised to Jackie O
Sandilands said he meant “every word” of his apology to Henderson following his on-air tirade. (Facebook: The Kyle and Jackie O Show)
Sandilands said he contacted Henderson hours after the on-air argument, saying he meant “every word” of his apology.
“I said things I wish I had said differently,” he said of the tirade.
“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.”
Read more about the Kyle and Jackie O split:
Sandilands said it had not been a “genuine process” with ARN Media, claiming he was told by the network not to contact Jackie, nor to speak to his colleagues.
“The truth is that ARN terminated Jackie’s contract on the same day it accused me of a breach,” he said.
“Jackie told me she was hurt, and I accept that.
“We never needed lawyers or ASX announcements to sort things out. I believe we could have sorted this out, too, if ARN had given us the chance.”
Sandilands noted his wish to return to the show, telling his listeners: “I’ll be back”.
One of the longest contract signings in Australian commercial history, the duo were meant to remain with the network until the end of 2034.