We regret to inform you that Kyle Sandilands is at it again.
The ink has dried on a $12 million settlement the shock jock reached with his former employer ARN, the denouement to months of legal drama which followed a nasty on-air tirade against long-term radio partner Jackie “O” Henderson.
Now back behind the mic with his new-ish daily show, Sandilands continues to use Henderson, ARN and the whole sorry court process as #content to generate tabloid clicks and keep subscribers entertained.
The latest stunt came just 15 minutes into Wednesday’s program, when Sandilands’ manager and sidekick Bruno Buchet served his boss with a subpoena live on air, requesting the broadcaster produce documents for Henderson’s ongoing lawsuit against ARN.
Kyle pertained to appear shocked, saying he was “very uncomfortable” about receiving the legal request.
“I’ll put that in the bin. Just tell them I’m overseas or something. Is that what happens? How do you get out of this?” he asked.
In reality, Sandilands does not seem that interested in getting out of it. The subpoenas in question were handed to his lawyers on Tuesday night, well before Bouchet’s big on-air reveal. They relate to information which Sandilands’ team appear happy to see in the public domain.
In July, ARN was granted permission by the Federal Court to use affidavits filed by Sandilands and Bouchet in its defence against Henderson’s action. The affidavits in question, which detail the breakdown in relations between KIIS FM’s star radio duo had been filed by Sandilands’ team just hours before he signed the $12 million settlement in June. His lawyers did not oppose ARN’s application to use the affidavits. This week’s subpoenas requested Sandilands provide exhibits linked to those same affidavits.
In other words, the whole “Kyle gets subpoenaed on-air” is a great big stunt. Ratings for the new program, which began last month amid a storm of amateurish technical glitches, must be pretty flat.
To be fair, Sandilands did not treat the court battle, which he initiated after ARN tore up his $100 million contract in February, with much seriousness, using preliminary hearings as an opportunity to turn up in his Rolls-Royce and grandstand in front of the gathered media pack.
But the way in which he continues to use it as fodder for unfunny radio bits is all a bit icky. While Sandilands has settled with ARN, Henderson’s own case against the network remains headed for a trial, scheduled for next month.
Court documents filed last week identified Henderson as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after working with her former co-star. According to excerpts from a new affidavit released by the Federal Court, Henderson said Sandilands’ behaviour was “unpredictable and erratic”, causing her to feel “worn down over time” and unsafe in the workplace. Unsurprising, really, given this whole episode began when Sandilands launched into a characteristic abusive tirade that reduced Henderson to tears.
These allegations also became content for Sandilands, who responded to them on-air.
“I instantly burst into tears … I fell apart this morning. Crying in the shower like a big sook,” he told listeners last week.
“That is so against what the reality of what happened was. It’s soul-destroying. It really is. It’s very upsetting to me.”
It’s difficult to square Sandilands’ claim that he is very upset by all of this with the way he has continued to make a mockery of Henderson’s ongoing legal battle, including receiving the subpoena on-air.
Whatever the merits of her case, those allegations of workplace bullying and trauma should be treated with a little grace and decorum. We all heard how he spoke to her over the years, after all.
But when you’re in the outrage business, everything is content. Sandilands, who has been grinding gears since the pre-social media era, has known this well before the current crop of influencers made that word so annoying.
And when everything is content, nothing is sacred. Not the feelings of a 12-year-old rape victim. Not the Virgin Mary. And certainly not the other half of your 25-year radio partnership.
The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
Kishor Napier-Raman is a senior business writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously he worked as a CBD columnist and reporter in the federal parliamentary press gallery.Connect via X or email.From our partners
About the Author
