Kyle Sandilands $100million KIIS FM contract TERMINATED by ARN in bombshell move

ARN has terminated Kyle Sandilands' KIIS FM contract in a bombshell move against the radio host, following his on-air blow-up with Jackie 'O' Henderson.

In an explosive statement obtained by Daily Mail on Wednesday morning, the 54-year-old admitted he doesn't 'accept' the fate of his role at the network.

He also confirmed the matter will now be in the hands of his lawyers.

'ARN has just announced that they've terminated my contract,' he said.

'I don't accept it.'

Sandilands continued: 'My lawyers told them last week this would be invalid. And guess what? It is.

'Let me tell you what actually happened here. Jackie and I had a blue on air. That's it. The kind of thing we've done a hundred times in 25 years. And ARN took the situation and decided to try and burn the place down. 

'They sacked Jackie. They suspended me. They wouldn't even let me pick up the phone to call her or anyone else on the show. Then – and this is the bit that gets me – once they'd made it impossible for the show to go on, they turn around and say, "You didn't fix it. You're fired!"'

Sandilands added that he had apologised to his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson the night after their on-air clash last month.

'I said sorry to Jackie the night of our blow-up. And when I said I was sorry to Jackie, I meant it. I still mean it. But it doesn’t mean I will stand by while I am separated from the people who've listened to me every morning for 25 years,' he continued.

'Before they suspended me, ARN said, "Let us handle it," and I listened. In the two weeks since, I’ve done everything ARN asked. I said, put me back on air. I'll work with Jackie. I'll work with someone else. Whatever you need. Every single time – "no." They weren't interested. They didn't want to fix this. They thought they saw a chance to get out of the contract they signed with me a year ago, and they ran with it.

'ARN knew exactly what they were getting when they signed my deal. They've worked with me for over a decade. They knew how I work, they knew the show, and they were happy to pay for it – because I delivered.

'Number one ratings. Year after year. Hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for their business. I held up my end. I always have.

'So, you tell me – why would ARN prefer to breach a contract and pay the legal consequences rather than honour the contract and pay me to do what I do best? That's the bit that doesn't make sense.

'I've got a contract until 2034. I’ve got rights under that contract. And ARN hasn't honoured the contract.

'So, it's over to my lawyers.

'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. I'm not done. Not by a long way.'

It comes after Sandilands failed to deliver on his expectation that he'd be returning to the KIIS FM airwaves after a bombshell late-night interview.

ARN had until midnight Tuesday to decide the radio host's fate as his 14-day suspension ended, and the 54-year-old shock jock said he would be back on the air in the morning unless he's told otherwise.

Mike E, whose real name is Mike Etheridge, continued his fill-in role on Wednesday's breakfast program alongside the Kyle & Jackie O Show staff – including newsreader Brooklyn Ross, 'Intern' Pete Deppeler and producers. 

Sandilands spoke in an off-the-cuff interview with McKnight Tonight after taping Australian Idol on Tuesday evening.

'No, my world has not fallen apart. I've still got a contract that hasn't changed until they advise me as such. I'm more than happy to turn up tomorrow and do the radio show,' he said.

'I want to get back to work. The listeners want me to go back to work. I've had many clients call me and say they want me back on there. We'll have to see if they're all singing from the same handbook.'

Sandilands added: 'I'm willing to do the show if they're willing to put me on. Time will tell. Might be a different conversation in the morning.'

When asked how his mental health was holding up, Sandilands was nonplussed.

He explained: 'Even my best mate, Johnny Ibrahim, called me today and said, "How are you?" and I said, "Mate I'm fine." And he said, "No, how's your mental health?" and I started laughing. I said, "My mental health is fine."

'Even my wife said to me, "You're remarkable, the way you're handling this", and I said, "Look, laying down in the corner and crying is not the way I normally do things." I've had way worse things than this to handle. I was a homeless teenager. I've dealt with much tougher things. I just compartmentalise it.'

Sandilands had the censors sweating earlier on Tuesday night as he went off script during a live episode of Australian Idol.

The radio king reportedly had radio network ARN worried that he'd say something uncouth once he was untethered from the reality show's live-to-air telecasts, and those concerns were somewhat founded as Sandilands took the first available opportunity to air his woes at KIIS FM.

He began by addressing host Ricki-Lee Coulter, before launching into hints that he may be out of a job as his ARN suspension deadline expired at midnight on Tuesday.

'Today, Ricki, I've got nothing else on my mind except the excitement of the vote,' Sandilands joked.

He then referred to the slick black suit he was wearing for the occasion, joking that he was suited up in the hopes of landing a job at menswear retailer, Lowes.

'I'm also dressed like this because I have a job interview with Lowes after the show,' Sandilands said.

'The radio guys... once you're out of radio you have to sell socks at Lowes.'

Sandilands then glanced at his watch as he added: 'For now I've got this job, and for now I still have the other job.'

Fellow judge Amy Shark suggested that she could be a reference for Kyle if he needed a new job.

'I might take you up on that,' Sandilands quipped.

On Tuesday afternoon, the shock jock gave an official, albeit brief, statement outside his Vaucluse home as he made his way to filming duties on Australian Idol.

Addressing waiting media, Sandilands confirmed that he wanted to continue work on the Kyle & Jackie O Show, but admitted that his future at KIIS FM still hung in the balance, with the midnight deadline for a decision from ARN looming.

After insisting he felt 'good', the radio king admitted that nothing has been decided with regard to his ongoing contract at the network.

'I obviously can't say too much because I haven't heard anything yet,' Kyle said.

'I still want to do this show. The listeners want me back on there doing the show. So 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.'

When asked what those options are, Sandilands, who was accompanied by his manager Bruno Bouchet, replied: 'No idea yet. Many options.'

Sandilands was then asked if rumours that he plans to buy ARN are true.

'There's many options, that is all I am going to say. I can't predict anything. Still waiting,' he replied cryptically.

Sandilands would not be drawn on questions about whether or not he has yet spoken to former co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson, simply ignoring the queries before hurriedly leaving the premises.

The Australian Radio Network (ARN) announced last month 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 on–air comments that left her in tears.

ARN also provided written notice to Sandilands stating it considers his behaviour during the show on February 20 to be 'an act of serious misconduct which is in breach of ARN's service agreement with Quasar Media'.

Sandilands was suspended and given 14 days to 'remedy' the breach, or else he faces termination.