‘No ability or power’: Radio giant’s claim about bullying in Kyle & Jackie O stoush

Kyle and Jackie O’s former network has filed its defence after the stars sued the network, with the company making one big claim about bullying allegations.

Radio giant ARN said it had “no ability or powers” to stop Kyle Sandilands from allegedly bullying co-host Jackie “O” Henderson on air and argues her company was responsible for ensuring her health and safety as part of its $9.4m-a-year deal with the network, court documents have revealed.

Both Sandilands and Henderson are suing the network after they were both sacked in the wake of their on-air blow up earlier this year in which he accused her of being “off with the fairies”.

Henderson is alleging that her sacking amounted to adverse action after she said she could no longer work on the KIIS FM breakfast show with Sandilands.

In her statement of claim, Henderson said she was seeking compensation for at least $82m after her 10-year contract was torn up.

In its defence filed with the court, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a subsidiary of ARN, said that it entered into a contract with Henderson’s company, Henderson Media, for her to present the Kyle & Jackie O Show.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O before their infamous on-air bust up. Picture: Supplied.
ARN argues that Henderson Media and Sandilands’ company, Quasar, were “solely responsible for controlling the manner in which it provides Program Services” for the Kyle and Jackie O Show.

“Consequently, once any broadcast began, CBC had no ability or power to contemporaneously prevent Mr Sandilands from engaging in bullying or other unwanted conduct towards Ms Henderson,” the company said in its defence filed with the Federal Court.

It says that under the terms of its $9.4m-a-year deal with Henderson Media, that her company is “responsible for ensuring the health and safety of Ms Henderson while performing the Program Services”.

During their now-infamous on-air blow up, Sandilands claimed that Henderson was “off with the fairies” as he commented on her “fixation” with astrology.

“You’re off with the fairies, you’re unfocused, you don’t give a s**t,” Sandilands said in the segment.

Kyle Sandilands walks out of the Federal Court last month. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short.
The court was previously told Sandilands was seeking immediate reinstatement.

In documents lodged with the court, Sandilands argued he often played the role of the “dominant and abrasive personality” on the show, and that his comments to his co-host were “congruent” with the “robust character that CBC desired”.

He claims his sacking was invalid as there was no act of serious misconduct or contract breach.

Court documents also reveal in a complaint letter sent to ARN, Henderson alleged she was “attacked and bullied on live prime time radio” and she had been left “psychologically unwell” after being “defamed and humiliated”.

Her solicitors sent the “Complaint Letter” to ARN and CBC on February 26 in the wake of her on-air argument with her co-host.

The letter was included by the network in its defence of its lawsuit against Sandilands.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson are both suing the network. Picture: Facebook.
Her lawyers said in the letter that she was considering defamation proceedings.

“The simple fact is that our client has been attacked and bullied on live prime time radio,” the letter said.

“There is evidence that she has endured persistent and relentless bullying by Mr Sandilands well before the 20 February 2026 incident which despite numerous opportunities, the Group has failed to adequately address both at law and ethically.”

The letter further said: “The consistent and ongoing bullying has left Ms Henderson psychologically unwell and has defamed and humiliated her in a public forum.”

Both the Sandilands and Henderson matters will come before the Federal Court on Friday.