Jackie O alleges history of on-air bullying by Sandilands

Jacqueline Henderson, better known by the moniker Jackie O, claimed she had previously made complaints of bullying against former co-host Kyle Sandilands for comments he made about her dating life.

In material filed with the Federal Court, Jacqueline Ellen Henderson alleged former KIIS Network co-host Kyle Sandilands made offensive comments on three separate occasions, including the last on-air blow-up in February that ended her time on the show.

Henderson has brought a claim for damages and penalties against Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and ARN Media for contraventions of the Fair Work Act and Australian Consumer Law.

Henderson alleged Sandilands made degrading comments about her character and dating life on 20 August 2025, including “your real is not everyone’s real” and he was worried she would “never find anyone because … all these requirements that you have”.

Sandilands also allegedly referred to her “period time”, claimed she had kept “saying the same b------t that no one understands”, and made a comment about “all these books but no idea” in relation to statements Henderson had made on the subject of anxiety.

Henderson momentarily left the show and made a complaint to the head of the KIIS Network, Derek Bargwanna, and executive producer Natalie Penfold, according to her statement of claim.

There was a further argument on 10 September 2025, but many of the words were “dumped”, or cut, before they could make it on-air.

After this alleged incident, Henderson said she sent a text message to Bargwanna that said she would “not be spoken in the way [I] was”.

On 20 February, Henderson alleged Sandilands made comments about her character, reputation and professional standing.

This included that she had a fixation with astrology, which made her “almost unworkable”, she was “off with the fairies with this s--t, it’s mental”, and that she “was not doing the rest of the job and everyone in this building has mentioned it to me”.

In a text message to the chief executive and chief content officer, Henderson said the comments were “unfair, inappropriate and completely unprovoked”. She also questioned whether they had put in place “boundaries and expectations moving forward”.

Henderson’s lawyers at HWL Ebsworth (HWLE) prepared a complaint letter that stated CBC had not implemented any control measures to minimise the risk to Henderson.

It also stated that as a result of Sandilands’ alleged conduct, Henderson could not continue to work with him.

In response, CBC’s lawyers at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSF Kramer) said that, as a result of the complaint letter, Henderson and her company, Henderson Media, had repudiated the agreement.

Henderson is seeking loss of fees payable under the agreement, being at least $82,250,000, along with the loss of opportunity to share in radio station revenue, fees for talent requests, and contra airtime.

In earlier court filings, Sandilands – who has also brought action against CBC and ARN – said his service agreement expressed the network’s desire that he present in a “robust character”.

His lawyer said tension between co-hosts was a “central dynamic”.

“Sandilands generally performed the role of the dominant and abrasive personality who was deliberately outrageous and often offensive, whilst Henderson played a moderating role as a warmer and emotionally attuned character,” his lawyer said.