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The veteran radio personality has finally addressed the public, breaking his silence today with a comprehensive statement aimed at “my listeners, my colleagues, and the public.” This comes in the wake of his suspension from the airwaves last month.
“On February 20th, I got into a heated discussion with Jackie on-air about a matter that had been troubling me for some time. I spoke in ways I now regret,” Sandilands confessed.
He continued, “That evening, I reached out to Jackie with a message apologizing for any offense I may have caused. I expressed my love and care for her and admitted I could have handled the situation better. Every word of that apology was heartfelt, and it remains so.”
“Jackie and I have shared the airwaves for over 25 years. She is incredibly important to me, and the thought of our partnership ending under these circumstances is heartbreaking,” he added.
Sandilands further claimed that he has been prohibited from contacting Henderson or any other colleagues, stating that he has complied with these restrictions as instructed.
He then accused ARN of not giving him the chance to privately smooth things over with Henderson.
“All of this happened while I was being told to sit quietly and say nothing. That is not a genuine process,” Sandilands said.
“Jackie told me she was hurt, and I accept that. But we have had disagreements before and we have always worked through them. That is what partners do.
“We never needed lawyers or ASX announcements to sort things out.
“I believe we could have sorted this out too, if ARN had given us the chance.”
Sandilands then called on his employer ARN to reinstate him as co-host of the Kyle & Jackie O Show and again denied allegations he was in breach of his contract.
The 54-year-old signed a $100 million deal in 2024 to remain on the airwaves alongside his longtime colleague Henderson until 2034.
“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 continued.
“I am asking ARN to do the right thing: honour our agreement and let me get back to doing what I do best – entertaining the people who have supported this show for more than two decades.
“To my listeners: Thank you. I miss you. I’ll be back.”
Henderson officially exited the KIIS FM show on March 4 after an on-air argument with Sandilands.
She released a statement on Friday insisting she did not quit or resign from the Kyle and Jackie O Show.
“It has been truly heartbreaking to see how this has unfolded. At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels,” Henderson said.
In addition to Henderson’s departure, ARN Media also announced that Sandilands could be out of the job if he does not prove within 14 days that he did not breach his contract for an alleged “act of serious misconduct” on that fateful show.
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