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It seems that Jackie 'O' Henderson's decision to walk away from her $100million KIIS FM contract had been weighing on her for some time.
Fans of The Kyle & Jackie O Show were left stunned on Tuesday when it was announced that Henderson's contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on-air that left her in tears last month.
But Henderson, 51, was clear she was willing to walk away from the show when she spoke at Radiodays Europe – the world's leading audio industry conference – in Athens, Greece back in March last year.
Speaking with British radio personality John Simons, Henderson admitted that she would be willing to walk away from her lucrative 10-year, $100 million contract.
'You did say that you would walk away from the show, and the 10-year contract, if things weren't right,' John said in the clip.
'Yes I would,' Henderson replied succinctly.
It seems that Jackie 'O' Henderson's shock decision to walk away from her $100million KIIS FM contract had been weighing on her for some time
'I think the older you get... it's important that you're staying true to yourself and that you enjoy what you do and that it feels authentic.
'And the minute it doesn't, I don't ever want to feel bound by this contract where I'm driven by money,' she said.
'I've never been driven by money in my career and I always want to stay true to that.
'So, if it doesn't feel right, at any stage, I would be prepared to walk away from that.'
It was a sentiment that Henderson shared on air, just four months later.
In July, she said she would step away from the mic at the end of their 10 year contract, when Sandilands, 54, revealed his desire to live in a French chateau.
'That’s my plan, at the end of the 10 years to go to Italy and live there for six months every year,' she said.
When Sandilands asked: 'So, what you’re saying after this 10-year deal's up that’s it for you?' Henderson replied with a succinct: 'Yep.'
Fans of The Kyle & Jackie O Show were left in shock on Tuesday when it was announced that Henderson's $100 million contract had been terminated after she told executives she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' following his harsh comments on-air that left her in tears last month
In a resurfaced clip, Henderson, 51, was speaking at Radiodays Europe – the world's leading audio industry conference – in Athens, Greece back in March last year, where she signalled her intention to 'walk away' from her lucrative 10-year contract
Henderson also inadvertently telegraphed her current clash with Sandilands in an interview with T Australia in October.
'Kyle and I have been going head to head a little bit lately, so I will certainly speak up if I don’t agree with what he’s saying,' she told the publication.
KIIS FM's parent company Australian Radio Network (ARN) announced on Tuesday that Henderson's $100 million contract had been terminated, and that Sandilands had been suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else face termination.
ARN provided written notice to Sandilands stating that it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's services agreement with Quasar Media'.
The KIIS breakfast show will be taken off-air immediately, with 'interim arrangements made for the show'.
ARN has offered Henderson the possibility of an alternative show on the network.
Sandilands and Henderson signed a 10-year deal with ARN in 2023, and have eight years left on the contract.
They were paid a reported $200 million in that landmark negotiation and earned approximately $47,000 per episode.
'I think the older you get... it's important that you're staying true to yourself and that you enjoy what you do and that it feels authentic,' she said
'I don't ever want to feel bound by this contract where I'm driven by money,' Henderson added. 'I've never been driven by money in my career and I always want to stay true to that'
Henderson had been AWOL from The Kyle & Jackie O Show since Friday, February 20, after Sandilands accused her of being unfocused at work.
During the on-air feud, Henderson broke down in tears when the pair were discussing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Sandilands became angry with her when she proceeded to read out the disgraced royal's birth chart.
He lambasted his co-star, claiming that her love for astrology was affecting her work.
When Henderson attempted to defend herself and accused him of launching an attack on her, he stated that he was only expressing the 'facts'.
An emotional Henderson said she was deeply 'offended' by his brutal comments during the clash.
She took a leave of absence following the altercation, and was expected to return to the show on March 2.
On Monday, it was announced that her return to the airwaves had been pushed back another week.
Sandilands started Tuesday's show by revealing that Henderson would return to the airwaves 'at some stage' – however, that was not to be.
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