Kyle and Jackie O: Sandilands’ cheeky dig at former network

Kyle Sandilands’ barrister says “if you buy Kyle, you get Kyle” as the radio shock jock fights to be reinstated on air.

Mr Sandilands took a dig at his former network as he entered a Sydney court on Friday, telling executives to put him back on the air so he could “get the share price back up”.

Mr Sandilands and his former Kyle & Jackie O co-host, Jackie Henderson are suing ARN in the wake of their sacking earlier this year.

Both matters will come before the Federal Court on Friday for a case management hearing.

They both had their 10-year, $100m contracts torn up following an on-air argument in February during which Mr Sandilands accused his co-host of being “off with the fairies” and made critical comments about her interest in astrology.

After Mr Sandilands’ contract was terminated he sued ARN, and its subsidiary Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), in an attempt to be reinstated.

Mr Sandilands arrived at court in a black Rolls Royce on Friday morning and was met by a massive media throng.

Asked if he had a message for ARN, Mr Sandilands said outside court: “Put me back on the radio, let’s get the share price back up.”

The court was told that Mr Sandilands’ side was pushing for his case to be heard as soon as possible.

Justice Angus Stewart previously reserved five days, starting on June 22, for a possible hearing.

The matters were heard in court on Friday to decide whether both cases should be heard together.

Mr Sandilands’ barrister, Scott Robertson SC, argued that they could be heard consecutively as long as it didn’t delay his client’s case going to trial.

Mr Robertson told the court that his client was “highly likely” to admit to have engaged in the “core conduct” that was at the centre of the case.

But he would argue that it amounted to serious misconduct because of the nature of Mr Sandilands’ contract.

“Now, our short position in relation to the series misconduct question, generally, is to put it bluntly – if you buy Kyle, you get Kyle,” Mr Robertson said.

“The kind of conduct in which he engaged was conduct that was desired, contractually designed and indeed was monetised.”

Mr Sandilands has argued he often played the role of the “dominant and abrasive personality” on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, and that his comments to his co-host were “congruent” with the “robust character that CBC desired.”

He claims his sacking was invalid as there was no act of serious misconduct or contract breach.

Court documents have revealed that in a complaint letter sent to ARN, Henderson alleged she was “attacked and bullied on live prime time radio” and she had been left “psychologically unwell” after being “defamed and humiliated”.

“The simple fact is that our client has been attacked and bullied on live prime time radio,” the letter said.

“There is evidence that she has endured persistent and relentless bullying by Mr Sandilands well before the 20 February 2026 incident which despite numerous opportunities, the Group has failed to adequately address both at law and ethically.”

Ms Henderson has meanwhile argued that she was owed $82m relating to the remainder of her contract.

In court documents, Ms Henderson has claimed that she twice complained to ARN Media – KIIS FM’s parent company – in the months leading up to their on-air bust-up.

According to court documents, Henderson sent a “complaint letter” to KIIS’s parent company saying she could not continue to work with Mr Sandilands.

In its defence filed with the court, CBC, said that it entered into a contract with Henderson’s company, Henderson Media, for her to present the Kyle & Jackie O Show.

ARN argues that Henderson Media and Sandilands’ company, Quasar, were “solely responsible for controlling the manner in which it provides Program Services” for the Kyle and Jackie O Show.

“Consequently, once any broadcast began, CBC had no ability or power to contemporaneously prevent Mr Sandilands from engaging in bullying or other unwanted conduct towards Ms Henderson,” the company said in its defence filed with the Federal Court.

CBC is also countersuing Mr Sandilands and Ms Henderson seeking damages for breach of contract and loss of advertising revenue.