Kyle Sandilands has been accused of workplace bullying against Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, with newly revealed court material laying bare an alleged foul-mouthed off-air confrontation that signalled the beginning of the end of their once gold-standard radio partnership.
In documents lodged with the Federal Court late Tuesday, the KIIS FM shock jock is alleged to have lashed out at his long-time co-host during a tense behind-the-scenes exchange at the network’s Sydney studios in September last year — months before their very public on-air implosion in January that brought the powerhouse duo crashing down.
The court documents mark the latest explosive twist in a widening legal war between the pair and their former employer, the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, which operates KIIS FM under ARN Media.
The Daily Mail reported CBC has sensationally claimed Sandilands’ behaviour formed part of a wider pattern of volatile and explosive conduct that ultimately tore apart his professional relationship with Henderson, alleging it amounted to serious bullying and harassment in breach of company policies.
According to the defence, the on-air disagreement that sparked the row quickly escalated into a heated off-air blow-up, after Sandilands allegedly spoke to Henderson in a “contemptuous” manner — an interaction she has also relied on in her own statement of claim.
What followed behind closed doors is alleged to have escalated rapidly.
Henderson is said to have challenged the criticism, telling Sandilands: “Kyle, that’s a bit rough, like f...en hell, I haven’t done anything to f...en cop it.”
Sandilands is claimed to have hit back, saying: “You wanna know the truth, here’s the truth. Today’s the first day you’ve ever paid any attention or had to carry anything in the opener, and it’s all s..t.”
The exchange allegedly spiralled further, with both sides trading “f..k you” in what has been described as a deteriorating clash between the former on-air power duo.
Sandilands is further accused of taking aim at Henderson’s role on the program, labelling her “too much of a mother hen”, before delivering a blunt and cutting ultimatum: “Don’t f..ing bother coming back either until you get your f..ing s..t together like a normal person.”
The documents also allege he told her he had been “carrying this whole show for a f...ing year”, while expressing frustration that concerns he had raised were not backed by colleagues, including newsreader Brooklyn Ross.
“I’m just left here with a limp d**k in my hand,” he allegedly said.
Within five months, the behind-the-scenes friction boiled over publicly, with Sandilands accusing Henderson of being “off with the fairies” during an awkward on-air exchange that left her visibly distressed and effectively marked the end of the long-running partnership.
Both presenters have since launched legal action against the broadcaster following their exits, with Sandilands seeking $85 million and Henderson $82 million — eye-watering claims tied to contracts worth around $10 million annually.
CBC is fighting both claims, arguing Sandilands’ alleged conduct represented serious breaches of internal workplace policies, including those relating to health and safety and employee conduct.
It also argues the February on-air incident may have breached the NSW Work Health and Safety Act.
Henderson’s claim is also being strongly contested, with the company maintaining she was employed specifically as Sandilands’ co-host and not as a standalone presenter, and therefore had no entitlement to be redeployed elsewhere.
Her refusal to continue working alongside him, CBC argues, amounted to a breach of contract in its own right.
The matter returns to court on Friday, April 24, when both parties are expected to attend case management hearings before Justice Angus Stewart.
If they do appear, it will mark the first time the former co-hosts have come face-to-face since their February 20 fallout.
It is expected to be a tense moment in what has become one of the most high-profile and bitter entertainment industry disputes in recent history.
Sandilands’ trial dates have been tentatively locked in for late June, as the saga edges towards a blockbuster courtroom showdown.
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