The beginning of the end started in a fairly mundane way.
“Your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable,” Sandilands remarked almost two weeks ago on 20 February.
He was accusing Henderson of being “off with the fairies” as she looked up the astrology birth chart for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who had hours earlier been arrested in the UK on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Sandilands, 54, claimed her recent interest in horoscopes and star signs had led to a noticeable shift in her work.
“You’re not doing the rest of the job and everyone in this building has mentioned it to me,” he declared, dismissing Henderson’s request for examples of his allegations.
She defended herself, saying his claims were “mean and nasty” and a “total attack”.
“I would never do something like that to you on air like that,” she said through tears, adding that if he was unhappy with her performance, “get someone else”.
The 51-year-old took a leave of absence and Sandilands told listeners his on-air partner would be back on the airwaves soon.
But, for a show that dabbled in a grey area of broadcasting standards – it attracted many warnings but few punishments over its vulgar and sexually explicit content – its end was black and white.
“Ms Jacqueline Henderson has given notice that she ‘cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands’,” an investor announcement from ARN Media – the owner of KIIS FM – declared on Tuesday.
As a result, they tore up her 10-year A$100m (US$70m; £52m) contract – signed in 2024 – and confirmed she was to be offered a possible new show.
Sandilands was hit with a claim of “serious misconduct” over his on-air rant and given 14 days to “remedy this breach” of his contract or risk his own $100m deal being cancelled.
Both hosts were contacted for comment, but did not reply.