Kyle Sandilands has spoken to the media outside of the Federal Court in Sydney, as his “pretty ugly” dispute with KIIS network owner Australian Radio Network takes its next legal steps.
The shock jock arrived to the court in Sydney this morning in a Rolls Royce, telling a packed crowd of reporters that he was eager to settle the legal battle that begun with his sacking from The Kyle & Jackie O Show in March.
“It’s a procedural day today, no fun today,” Sandilands said. “Put me back on the radio. Let’s get the share price back up.”
Sandilands admitted he hadn’t spoken in person to his radio host, Jackie O Henderson, since the dramatic on-air spat that prompted her to take a brief leave of absence before ARN announced her resignation and pulled both hosts off air.
“It’s already pretty ugly,” Sandilands said of the legal fallout of the argument.
When asked about ARN’s counter-claim, which detailed a number of alleged breaches of contract, Sandilands said: “There’s strategy and then there’s real and not real”.
“I’m just happy to get in court and get the truth out,” he said. “Once we get inside and we get all the answers out, the truth will raise its head.”
Sandilands’ remarks came ahead of a case management hearing, where both he and Henderson are set to present their claims of unfair dismissal against ARN.
During the hearing, Sandilands’ barrister Scott Robertson mounted his case for the radio host, describing ARN’s cross-claims — which accused him of repeatedly berating colleagues and the audience on air — as a “kitchen sink defence” given his status as a shock jock.
“If you buy Kyle, you get Kyle,” Robertson said.
“[The allegations] may be regarded as serious misconduct for the purposes of employment law, [but they aren’t] serious misconduct for the purposes of this particular contract. The kind of conduct in which he engaged was conduct that was desired — contractually desired, that’s the word in the contract —and indeed was monetised,” Robertson added.
Sandilands barrister stressed the case isn’t simply about money, saying he is seeking both the remainder of his terminated contract and the reinstatement of his radio hosting role.
“Sandilands wants to get back before the microphone. This not the case of an opera singer who doesn’t want to sing,” Robertson said.
Meanwhile, Henderson did not attend the hearing because of the “significant psychological harm” Sandilands has caused, her barrister Vanja Bulut said.
Justice Angus Stewart said it was likely both Sandilands and Henderson’s cases would be heard together and set a date for the 10-day trial in October.
Sandilands addressed the media when leaving court, urging people not to “believe the bullshit that you hear and read” and to “wait to see what comes out in court”.
Lead images: 9News
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