Kyle Sandilands insists he was not accused of bullying co-host Jackie “O” Henderson before he was suspended and later terminated from ARN, news.com.au understands.
Documents tendered in the Federal Court reveal the broadcaster is alleging in its defence that Kyle’s “persistent” workplace “bullying and harrassment” of Jackie was grounds for termination.
But a source told news.com.au no such complaints or warnings reached Kyle while he was employed.
“I could not be more clear, there was never anything said to Kyle about his behaviour towards Jackie – not a single thing,” the source told news.com.au.
In the network’s statement of claim, which provides further insight into why the broadcaster terminated the shockjock, ARN claimed it had no “ability or powers” to stop Kyle from allegedly bullying Jackie on air.
The statement included Jackie and her manager Gemma O’Neill’s complaints to management about Kyle’s alleged bullying, but no direct reference of anyone relaying the bullying complaints to Kyle.
The network’s statement of claim does refer to a letter sent to Kyle from ARN on December 12, 2025, in which the broadcaster claims its star was directed to “comply” with ARN’s work health and safety policy and code of conduct. But the source claimed that letter was in relation to the The Australian Communications and Media Authority coming down on the show, rather than concerning Kyle’s interactions with Jackie.
“That was about ARN wanting to get on the front foot and putting together content guidelines, so there wouldn’t be anything further from ACMA,” the source said.
“It was nothing to do with Jackie.”
The ACMA announced in October 2025 that The Kyle and Jackie O Show was guilty of breaching multiple commercial radio code of practices in broadcasts.
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While ARN’s claims are serious, news.com.au understands Kyle believes a clause in his contract stating that he plays a “robust” character on-air should be enough to defend him against claims he bullied his co-host on the show.
“Kyle is a righteous guy, and there was a contract put in place that had clear parameters that acknowledged Kyle’s tone and style of broadcasting,” the source said.
“The kind of radio that went on air, ARN, not only accepted but promoted.”
In Kyle’s statement of claim his lawyers argued the “banter and tension” between Jackie and Kyle is a “central dynamic” to the show.
The lawyers also argued that Kyle “performed the role of the dominant and abrasive personality who was deliberately outrageous and often offensive”, while Jackie’s role was different again, and she played a “warmer and more emotionally attuned” character.
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The source also claimed Kyle’s legal team is going through hundreds of hours of radio to find examples of times Kyle argued with Jackie on-air that was then promoted by the network.
They claim in some examples those arguments were even “replayed in the hour of power” in the afternoons or posted on social media.
In ARN’s statement of claim it argues the now infamous February 20 argument between the co-hosts was not an “isolated” incident,
Instead the broadcaster argued the spat was an example of a persistent problem and claims that Kyle’s “bullying and harassment” was “so severe” that Jackie “refused to ever work” with him ever again.
ARN’s statement of claim does not just reference the Febuary 20th spat but an on-air argument that continued off-air in September 2025.
The September argument shares similarities with their now-infamous February 20th on-air fight, which ended both Kyle and Jackie’s contracts being torn up.
In February, Kyle accused Jackie of being “off with the fairies”, and not doing her job to the best of her ability.
But back in September, Kyle allegedly confronted Jackie for not paying enough attention on-air.
The criticism caused Jackie to storm off, and Kyle allegedly called out after her, “Don’t f**king bother coming back, either (until) you can get your f**king s**t together like a normal person”.
Jackie stormed off, then later returned and completed the rest of the show from home.
“If they’re pointing out all these apparent ‘horrific’ things Kyle did, isn’t that a failing on ARN’s behalf that this is the first time Kyle has heard about their issues with his demeanour?” the source said.
According to the source, Kyle is still open to settling with ARN, and those talks haven’t gone away.
“For Kyle, it is very black and white,” the source said.
“If he needs to spend years fighting this thing, he will do it, but he is open to anything else.”