Kyle Sandilands has broken his silence following the collapse of his long-running radio partnership with Jackie 'O' Henderson, insisting he has not breached his contract and urging ARN to let him return to the airwaves.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the KIIS FM breakfast host said he wanted to speak directly to his listeners, colleagues and the public. “I want to be on air. I want to be with my audience. I want to do the job I have done my entire adult life,” Sandilands said. “I am asking ARN to do the right thing: honour our agreement and let me get back to doing what I do best.”
Sandilands disputed the network’s claim that he had breached his contract, which runs until 2034. He acknowledged an on-air argument with Henderson on 20 February, saying he apologised to her that same evening. “I said things I wish I had said differently,” he said. “That same evening, I sent Jackie a message telling her I was sorry for anything I said that didn’t go down well.”
He emphasised the depth of their relationship: “Jackie and I have worked together for over 25 years. She is one of the most important people in my life. The idea that our partnership could end like this is devastating to me.” However, he criticised ARN for preventing him from contacting Henderson or speaking with colleagues, calling it “impossible for me to do the one thing anyone in my position would want to do – pick up the phone and talk.”
The dispute stems from an on-air argument during a segment about astrology, which led to Sandilands’ suspension for “serious misconduct”. Henderson previously stated she did not quit or resign, and that the show’s possible end came as a shock. The fallout has raised questions about the future of ARN’s biggest audio franchise.
