Radio host Kyle Sandilands launched expletive-laden tirades against executives, censors, critics and listeners of the Kyle and Jackie O Show, according to federal court documents filed by his employer, ARN. The documents form part of ARN's defence against an $85 million claim lodged by Sandilands after his sacking for alleged serious misconduct.
ARN alleges Sandilands called activist group Mad Fucking Witches (MFW) 'dangerous lunatics' and threatened to hire private investigators to dig up dirt on them. He also denigrated the show's Melbourne audience, saying, 'If we don't rate better by the end of this year, I'm pulling the carpet out. I'll just take the show off Melbourne. You can suck my dick.'
The defence claims Sandilands told censors, 'Don't go bleeping this shit out or you censors will have no job,' and declared that ARN had 'no control whatsoever over what we do on this show.' He also referred to ARN executives as 'pussies' and said, 'I don't give a shit [about shareholders]. I got my money. End of caring.'
The dispute began after an on-air argument with co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson over astrology, which led to her walking off and later terminating her contract. Henderson has launched separate legal action seeking at least $82.25 million for wrongful termination. ARN has filed a cross-claim against both Sandilands and Henderson, alleging breach of contract and seeking damages for lost advertising revenue.
ARN's defence also reveals that Sandilands threatened to quit after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) considered imposing additional licence conditions following repeated breaches of the commercial radio code of practice. Sandilands allegedly said, 'I'm not going to waste my life coming in here when I'm being given this instruction, that instruction, this archaic law, that archaic law. Not doing it. Just not interested in being puppeteered by losers.'
