Kyle Sandilands, the controversial Australian radio personality, has initiated legal proceedings against ARN Media following the termination of his lucrative $100 million contract, according to a statement released to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
The legal action stems from an on-air dispute between Sandilands and his former co-host, Jackie “O” Henderson, which occurred on February 20 during an episode of what was then known as the Kyle and Jackie O Present. The show has since been cancelled.
ARN Media confirmed Sandilands’ lawsuit in its statement, outlining the core of his claim. “the applicants claim the termination of Mr Sandilands’ contract was invalid on the basis they allege that there was no act of serious misconduct or breach of contract, and that the termination was unconscionable under the Australian Consumer Law,” the statement read. Sandilands is seeking specific performance of the contracts, payment of all outstanding amounts, and damages.
ARN Media has publicly stated its intention to vigorously defend the proceedings. No court date has yet been scheduled. A spokesperson for Sandilands declined to provide comment.
The dispute that triggered the contract termination involved a disagreement over Henderson’s interest in astrology. Sandilands reportedly criticized Henderson, stating she was “off with the fairies” and that her “fixation” on horoscopes was hindering their work. Henderson characterized Sandilands’ remarks as an attack.
Following the incident, ARN Media announced on March 3 that Henderson had “given notice” that she could no longer continue working with Sandilands. Henderson subsequently denied that she had resigned from the show.
The cancellation of the Kyle and Jackie O Show represents a significant shift for ARN Media, particularly given the program’s previous success. The show had, at its peak, attracted an audience of 797,000 listeners in Sydney each weekday morning, capturing a 16.3 percent market share – the highest of any radio station in the city. Sandilands and Henderson were under contract with ARN Media until at least 2034, as part of a $200 million deal.
In its statement to the ASX, ARN Media acknowledged the legal challenge but indicated it was currently “too early to reliably estimate the outcome or any potential impact” of the proceedings.
