Radio company ARN has filed a defence against shock jock Kyle Sandilands’ $85m legal claim, alleging he repeatedly berated executives, censors, critics and the Melbourne audience of the Kyle and Jackie O Show in expletive-laden rants. The court documents, released by the federal court on Thursday, detail alleged tirades that aired months before Sandilands was sacked for “serious misconduct”.
According to the defence, Sandilands called activist group Mad Fucking Witches (MFW) “dangerous lunatics” and said he would have private investigators follow them to find “some shit”. He also denigrated in-house censors for using the dump button, telling them: “Don’t go bleeping this shit out or you censors will have no job.” He referred to ARN executives as “pussies” and said they had “no control whatsoever over what we do on this show”.
The dispute began with an on-air argument between Sandilands and co-host Jackie “O” Henderson over her interest in astrology, which left her in tears. Henderson later told ARN she could no longer work with Sandilands, and her contract was terminated. She has launched separate legal action claiming at least $82.25m for wrongful termination, alleging she was subjected to “degrading” comments on air.
ARN’s defence also alleges Sandilands walked off the show in July 2025 after complaining about the censor and the law of contempt of court, following pressure from the Victorian office of public prosecutions over comments he made about murderer Erin Patterson during her trial. Sandilands is said to have told listeners: “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.”
ARN has filed a cross-claim against both Sandilands and Henderson, alleging Sandilands broke his $100m, 10-year contract through behaviour that caused Henderson to refuse to present with him. The company is seeking damages for breach of contract and loss of advertising revenue.
