“She Played Us!” ARN Just EXPOSED Jackie O’s ‘Fake’ Bullying Claim as a Trick to Escape Her Multi-Million Dollar Contract!
Jackie O Henderson allegedly threatened to pursue a workplace bullying claim against co-host Kyle Sandilands so she could move to a new timeslot, according to fresh claims by the radio star’s former employer ARN.
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O breached decency standards, regulator ACMA ruled
The Australian Radio Network (ARN) has made fresh allegations against former KISS FM star Jackie O Henderson, claiming her workplace bullying complaint was “not done in good faith” and used as part of an effort to get out of her contract.
Henderson and co-host Kyle Sandilands have been embroiled in a months-long legal dispute with ARN over the termination of their contracts.
Sandilands settled his case in June for a multi-million dollar payout. Henderson is suing ARN Media for wrongful termination of her contract and breach of a share loan agreement, and is seeking more than $82 million in compensation.
However, in documents made public by the Federal Court on Thursday, ARN alleged Henderson’s workplace bullying complaint against Sandilands – which underpins her suit against the network – was not made in “good faith”.
“Ms Henderson and Henderson Media reserved their right to make a report to SafeWork NSW, which was not done in good faith and for a proper purpose”, ARN said in a court filing.
The radio giant alleged Henderson threatened to pursue the workplace bullying claim to get out of her contractual obligation with KISS FM and free herself up for another radio slot.
ARN said Henderson had the option of making a bullying complaint towards Sandilands, but she likely would have had to continue working with him while the matter was investigated.
ARN said Henderson had the option of making a bullying complaint towards Sandilands, but she likely would have had to continue working with him while the matter was investigated. Picture: NewsWire/Nikki Short
“The purpose of stating that Ms Henderson had the ability to initiate a claim for relief to address bullying in the workplace under the Act was to seek to force CBC not to hold Ms Henderson and Henderson Media to the services that they were contractually bound to provide… and instead to provide Ms Henderson and Henderson Media with an alternative daypart which CBC was not contractually obliged to provide,” the network wrote in its filing.
ARN also claimed evidence from Henderson’s manager, Gemma O’Neill, indicated Henderson had already decided to move to another program.
“Ms Henderson had already ‘resolved’ to perform on another show at a different time of the day,” it said, citing an affidavit from Henderson’s manager Gemma O’Neill.
The high-profile dispute stemmed from an on-air bust-up on February 20, when Sandilands hit out at his co-host, accusing her of letting her passionate interest in astrology affect her work.
“It’s affecting other things, like your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable. You’re off with the fairies with this s***. It’s mental,” Sandilands said.
ARN also claimed evidence from Henderson’s manager, Gemma O’Neill, indicated Henderson had already decided to move to another program. Picture: News Corp Australia
Sandilands claimed “everyone in the building” had complained about her for “not doing the rest of the job”.
“I would never say things like that about you,” Henderson hit back as she broke down in tears.
“It’s a total attack, it really is… to say: ‘You don’t know what the F is going on, you’re not doing your job’, that’s an attack, and I wouldn’t do that.”