Kyle Sandilands took a sick day on Friday as tensions with his co-host Jackie "O" Henderson continue to escalate. The move comes after Henderson formally notified ARN, the owner of KIIS FM, that she "cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands," according to a statement released Tuesday.
Insiders report that the duo, once radio's power couple, have been drifting apart for years. The rift became public after Sandilands criticized Henderson's astrological obsession, calling her "unfocused" during a segment. A week earlier, Sandilands mocked Henderson's treatment for addiction at the Betty Ford Clinic in 2022, leading to a terse on-air exchange.
Sandilands hosted the show solo from Monday to Wednesday last week and again on Monday and Tuesday this week. Henderson remained off air on Friday, reportedly too upset to return. The program has been under increased scrutiny since the Australian Communications and Media Authority found it breached broadcasting codes in October, with potential licence suspension pending.
Producers have been instructed to clean up content, bleeping references to sex acts and expletives. Meanwhile, Sandilands has embraced a family-man image, focusing on his three-year-old son, while Henderson has pursued spiritual enlightenment. The role reversal has created friction, with recent producer departures adding to the turmoil.
