Save this article for later<\/p>\n
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n
Got it<\/p>\n
AAA<\/p>\n
All the faux allegiances have fallen away in the unfolding high stakes legal saga<\/a> between radio\u2019s most famous on-air couple Kyle (Sandilands), Jackie \u2018O\u2019 (Henderson) and the radio network that was paying them $200 million.<\/p>\n It is now every man\/woman\/company for themselves after Henderson went on the offensive on Tuesday, filing a legal action<\/a> against the KIIS network\u2019s owner ARN Media, claiming her contract had been illegally terminated after her complaints of bullying by Sandilands.<\/p>\n The saga has deteriorated to lawyers at 20 paces. For ARN shareholders, the legal actions taken by Sandilands and Henderson could be breaking the company. Each of the radio talking heads is looking for more than $80 million, which is way more cash than the company has on its balance sheet.<\/p>\n Sure, ARN would\u2019ve been wanting to get out of the onerously profligate contract it entered into with Sandilands and Henderson two years ago. But losing these stars and having to pay out their contracts would be the worst of all outcomes.<\/p>\n It would be financially devastating for ARN, which has a market value of $87 million, less than half the value of Sandilands\u2019 and Henderson\u2019s combined 10-year contract.<\/p>\n In most employment cases involving breach of contracts, the employer holds the financial muscle. But Sandilands and Henderson are well-resourced and well-advised adversaries with a lot at stake.<\/p>\n Related Article There was an inevitability about Henderson mounting a case against the radio network. She says she had a right to complain to the network about allegedly being bullied by Sandilands, and that ARN had no right to repudiate her contract as a result.<\/p>\n The flashpoint for the Kyle and Jackie \u2018O\u2019 blow-up was his disparaging on-air criticism of Henderson, in which he said she was unprofessional and off with the fairies.<\/p>\n Interestingly, ARN has been using Sandilands\u2019 alleged bullying as justification for sacking him. Now, the tables have turned and Henderson is using Sandilands\u2019 behaviour as the reason ARN had no right to sack her.<\/p>\n The juicy letter from Henderson to ARN, which is being teased out, will be crucial to everyone. All we know is that, according to ARN, Henderson said she would no longer work with Sandilands, and ARN says the letter included \u201cpsychosocial health and safety and bullying complaints in relations to\u201d Sandilands\u2019 behaviour, and that her complaints included instances even before the February on-air blow up.<\/p>\n She rejects ARN\u2019s assertion that she was given the possibility of another job within the network, and she says the company\u2019s ASX statement to that effect was \u201cmisleading and deceptive\u201d.<\/p>\n Sandilands\u2019 case against ARN<\/a>, which claims he breached his agreement with his \u201cserious misconduct,\u201d seems less clear-cut.<\/p>\n He clearly has a different barometer for misconduct, but he argues he was just doing his job. They wanted a provocative caveman and that\u2019s what they got.<\/p>\n Outside court last week, Sandilands said: \u201c[Jackie] understands. We\u2019ve had blow-ups before. I didn\u2019t do anything different than I\u2019ve been doing for 25 years.<\/p>\n \u201cAn argument did happen. I think it was quite tame compared to how they\u2019ve been before, and it would have been something that would have just been over and done with the next day and the show would have cruised on.\u201d<\/p>\n His argument appears to be that this is normal behaviour, which the KIIS network has not taken issue with previously and had therefore tacitly sanctioned, if not commercialised.<\/p>\n His lawyers said terminating his contract was invalid because he was performing his role with KIIS FM as a \u201crobust character\u201d presenting a \u201cdeliberately provocative\u201d radio program.<\/p>\n Despite being repeatedly sanctioned by broadcasting regulators for breaching radio\u2019s code of conduct, the show continued unfazed until the February meltdown.<\/p>\n The real entertainment will begin if, or when, the two stars\u2019 actions make their way to a courtroom and the contents of each party\u2019s communications (texts and emails) are revealed.<\/p>\n It\u2019s likely that ARN\u2019s shareholders won\u2019t find this radio drama very entertaining.<\/p>\n The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day\u2019s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/19d9079d6bf687ba93376a53984baa5b60a7c14f9aa457446ccc775d421084cc.jpeg\")
A little over two years ago, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie \u2018O\u2019 Henderson seemed to have got everything they wanted out of their bosses at ARN. Now it\u2019s become a legal drama.Michael Howard<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/58dde6cb9aab1422e23c96bd433d8ca3bea1be06.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n