How it happened: A timeline of the 'biggest bust-up in Australian media'

Just one year into their $100 million 10-year contract, the hasty end to The Kyle and Jackie O Show has left listeners reeling.

The 27-year-strong co-hosts' time on air together ended abruptly nearly a month ago, with the popular breakfast show axed.

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson have released statements confirming they are exploring legal avenues after the bombshell news that's shaken the Aussie radio landscape.

Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party here

Here's a timeline of how the drama, described as "the biggest, most consequential bust-up in Australian media – ever", has unfolded.

Friday, February 20

It all began with an on-air argument where Sandilands criticised Henderson for discussing the birth chart and astrological chart of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

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Sandilands shut Henderson down, saying he felt she'd been acting like a "drug addict" and was "off with the fairies."

"Your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable," he said.

"You're not doing the rest of the job and everyone in this building has mentioned it to me."

Henderson, clearly taken back by his criticism, said he was being "mean and nasty" and described his words as "an attack".

After the confrontation, she told Sandilands, "there are so many things that you don't do, and I would never bring them up ... I would never say things like that about you." 

She told him that if she was so "unworkable", he should "get someone else."

Monday, February 23

The following Monday, Henderson did not return to work.

During that morning's episode of The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Sandilands told listeners his co-host would be taking a break for "a couple of days" to "gather her thoughts".

However, on Tuesday, February 24 it was announced she would not be returning to the show for the rest of the week, and Sandilands said she would join him on air again soon. 

Tuesday, March 3

Then came the bombshell: ARN, which operates KIIS FM, released a statement revealing Henderson had told the network she "cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands."

"ARN has terminated the services agreement with Henderson Media Pty Ltd, under which Ms Henderson presents the Kyle and Jackie O show," the March 3 statement continued.

The network also claimed Sandilands' behaviour during the February 20 show was "an act of serious misconduct" and said he had been suspended and "given 14 days to remedy this breach", with The Kyle and Jackie O Show taken off-air in the interim.

Wednesday, March 4 

Kent "Smallzy" Small stepped in to host KIIS FM's breakfast show, and opened with a statement essentially repeating ARN's announcement.

"My name is Smallzy, and I've got a statement that I've been asked to read before we start this morning," he said.

"So for our KIIS listeners, we've got some important news for you. Jackie has given notice that she can no longer continue to work on the show with Kyle on breakfast. As such, Jackie has officially left the show.

"Kyle has been given 14 days to remedy a serious breach of contract in respect of the show. He'll not be on air during this time. If that does not happen, that contract will be terminated.

"That's what I have been told and asked to read you."

Friday, March 6

Henderson broke her silence with a statement on March 6, revealing she was "deeply saddened by the events of the past week." 

"There has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show," she said. 

"I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign.

"I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else.

"At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels," Henderson added.

Tuesday, March 10

Sandilands then released a statement of his own, claiming "[I] said things I wish I had said differently."

"I sent Jackie a message telling her I was sorry for anything I said that didn't go down well, that I love her and care for her, and that I could have handled it better," he said.

"Jackie and I have worked together for over 25 years. She is one of the most important people in my life. The idea that our partnership could end like this is devastating to me."

Sandilands said ARN had told him to halt contact with his co-host in the wake of their on-air clash.

"The truth is that ARN terminated Jackie's contract on the same day it accused me of a breach. It suspended me from work," he added.

"All of this happened while I was being told to sit quietly and say nothing. That is not a genuine process."

He stated he was still "committed" to his 10-year $100 million contract with ARN.

Wednesday, March 11

A source close to Sandilands claimed the two had now made contact with each other, telling the Sydney Morning Herald, "Both see it as it is: ARN jumping at the opportunity to try and save money."

Friday, March 13

Henderson is reportedly considering legal action against ARN Media following her shock exit from the Kyle & Jackie O Show.

The Financial Review reports she is considering exploring a wrongful termination lawsuit in the wake of ARN's statement to the ASX, which suggested she had walked away from her contract at KIIS FM.

Sources told the publication Henderson alleges ARN wrongfully terminated her contract and that she was not offered another show.

Tuesday, March 17

Ahead of ARN's verdict on his future at KIIS FM, Sandilands spoke to reporters outside his Sydney home, saying he has "options" if his contract is cut.

"I can't say too much, because I don't know anything yet. I still want to do the show," he said.

"At the end of the day, I've got a contract with ARN, I expect them to honour that, and I do have some options if they don't."

When asked what his "best" option was, he replied, "There's many options."

Wednesday, March 18

After a 14-day wait to determine the future of the Kyle & Jackie O Show, ARN confirmed the show will not continue.

Minutes before the company's announcement, Sandilands revealed his $100 million contract has been terminated in his own statement, unleashing feelings of betrayal.

"ARN has just announced that they've terminated my contract. I don't accept it. My lawyers told them last week this would be invalid," he said.

Sandilands wrote that he is "not done" and the issue is now in the hands of his lawyers.

He also expressed the situation as a disservice to his listeners, "To the people who tune in every morning – you lot are the reason I've done this for 25 years.

"You didn't get a say in this. Neither did I. But my lawyers will."

Thursday, March 19

The first metro radio ratings of the year revealed the Kyle and Jackie O Show lost listeners in Sydney but still retained its FM breakfast crown in its final survey before being taken off air.

The survey period – covering January 18 to February 28 – ended eight days after the co-hosts' infamous argument on February 20, with Henderson having been off-air in that final week.

The former radio duo's share result did not change from the final result of 2025, at 12.7 per cent, but they lost 60,000 cumulative listeners in Sydney. However, they remained the city's top FM breakfast show, ahead of Smooth FM and Gold.

In Melbourne, the show had a 0.1 percentage point boost, ending at 5.1 per cent, and cumulative listeners in the city across the survey period were unchanged. The show came in eighth across the city.

Friday, March 27

After whispers of a court battle, Sandilands appeared in the Federal Court in Sydney on March 27, kicking off the $100 million lawsuit against his former employer, ARN.

He told the media waiting for him outside the courtroom that he was "happy to get the ball rolling" on the suit.

Sandilands added he "just wants to get back to work".

"If it's not with these people, I'll just have to figure out a plan," he said, referring to ARN.

"I had a 10-year deal and that's what I want to do."

The suit is focused on the termination of his $100 million, ten-year contract with the company.

He said he has not had contact with his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson, and reiterated his regret over comments made on-air.

"I think it has all turned into quite a circus," he told reporters.

"It feels like I didn't do anything different than I have done for 25 years. Actually, a little bit tamer than most days because I was concerned with how she was feeling."

Tuesday, March 31

Exactly one week after Sandilands filed his suit, Henderson filed a $82.25 million suit against ARN.

A statement to shareholders shared via the ASX confirmed Jackie O had commenced legal proceedings against her former employer, alleging her termination from her KIIS FM radio show with Kyle Sandilands was against the Fair Work Act.

ARN said it disputed Henderson's claims and will defend against the suit in court.

In part, the note said: "Ms Henderson sent a 'Complaint Letter' to CBC [ARN subsidiary Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation] which noted that Ms Henderson 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' and made psychosocial health and safety and bullying complaints in relation to the conduct of Mr Kyle Sandilands on and prior to 20 February 2026."

Entertainment reporter Peter Ford highlighted the "shocking" allegation at the heart of the collapse.

Speaking to nine.com.au, Ford said: "That to me is the big shock here – that she had made official complaints about him."

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