The Kyle Sandilands Bombshell That Made Jackie O React In A Way Nobody At KIIS Expected

An ex-Kyle and Jackie O staffer detailed the tough chat he’d had with the radio queen amid concerns he’d “taken sides” in the drama.

Brooklyn Ross has opened up about how Jackie “O” Henderson reacted to the news he was joining Kyle Sandilands’ new show, months after the longtime radio partners’ spectacular falling out sent shockwaves through the industry.

Speaking on The Kylecast, a new series billed as an “unofficial fan podcast” of Kyle Sandilands Live, Ross – who was not only the Kyle and Jackie O Show’s newsreader for more than a decade, but also a close friend of both – admitted his decision to join Sandilands’ show prompted a “tough” conversation with Henderson.

“It was tough … just because I didn’t know what her reaction [would be], and she is such a great friend of mine and we’re so close,” Ross explained to host Bella Frizza.

“But she came back and said she’s supportive of my career, and if that was where I thought was the best option, she could see why … she said, you know, ‘go for it’.”

Ross opened up about joining former boss Kyle Sandilands’ show – and how he told Jackie “O” Henderson. Picture: Instagram

The ex-KIIS staffer also said on the podcast that Henderson had “copped a bit of unnecessary heat” over the perception that she “purposefully brought down the show” after walking off air amid an on-air spat with Sandilands in February.

“That actually wasn’t her intention at all,” Ross insisted, adding that she would share her side of the story at some point.

“I do feel for her, and we all miss her. A lot of people talk about Jackie and I want her to tell her own story, and she will, one day … It’s tough at the moment … but she will eventually say it all.”

Ross’ defection from KIIS to his former boss’ new show came as a last-minute surprise to viewers, unfolding just three days before the subscriber-only Kyle Sandilands Live premiered.

He and Sandilands revealed the drama it had sparked behind the scenes as their first technically-challenged show went to air last Monday, with the radio titan claiming he had intervened at his former station to force their hand.

“Guess what, I made that happen with one phone call,” Sandilands told Ross.

“Forget your CEOs, your heads of content – they’re peasants. Above them are the chairmen. I hang out in that world,” Sandilands said.

He claimed he told Ross’ former employers that if they didn’t allow him to appear on the show, “I’ll sit him behind me with an ARN sticker over his mouth and tell everyone that’s KIIS FM not allowing him to broadcast.”

Sandilands’ first week on air has been plagued with tech issues. Picture: Supplied

Ross elaborated on the situation during his interview with Frizza, confirming Sandilands had pulled “his behind the scenes strings, which he loves to do”.

“I’m very appreciative … I loved being on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, I was on it for 12 years, and I expected it to go for another nine,” he said.

“And Jackie left, obviously, but one thing she’s always made clear is that she didn’t want the show to end – and she was surprised by that. She didn’t want to take that away from Kyle, no matter what they had going on among themselves.”

The Kyle and Jackie O team – including Ross, centre – during the show’s heyday. Picture: Supplied

Despite Henderson’s support of his decision to join with Sandilands’ team, Ross admitted that it was still a “tough decision”.

“Like I am not taking sides or trying to show support to one or the other. I really feel like I’m a child in the middle of a divorce,” he said.

Ross’ interview comes after a rocky first week of Kyle Sandilands Live, with Friday’s edition plagued with so many technical issues that producers ultimately chose to just pull the plug entirely halfway through.

Ross and the show’s executive producer Jaimee “Mayo” Blazquez shared a video in the wake of the chaos, apologising to subscribers and explaining what had happened.

“We were scared this day might come,” Ross said.

“We’re so sorry that the tech has failed us today because the show that we had planned would have been incredible,” Mr Blazquez added.

“We’ve tried a few times, and I think we’re just going to upset you more if we keep coming back and then disappearing again. So we’ve decided today to not take the show to air,” she explained.

Mr Blazquez said the team intended to “use the weekend” to “properly get everything sorted”.

“Monday we’ll be back with new equipment because we’ve ordered everything and hopefully we don’t have these issues again,” she added.