Australian Shock Jock Settles for $12 M After Contract Termination

Former KIIS FM breakfast host Kyle Sandilands was dismissed in March after a heated on‑air dispute with co‑host Jackie O. The disagreement led to a lawsuit for wrongful termination, with Sandilands seeking to recover an estimated 85 M A$ in lost earnings.

All parties settled on Wednesday. ARN Media agreed to pay Sandilands a 12.09 M A$ cash settlement and an additional 1.5 M A$ in advertising across its platforms over the next three years. The settlement also contains a clause that prevents Sandilands from working for any ARN competitor until March of next year.

In addition, ARN will receive a 19.9% cut of any future independent media ventures Sandilands undertakes for a period of three years. Jackie O remains involved in a separate legal claim over her own contract termination, which is still ongoing.

The 15‑minute fallout that sparked the settlement began when Sandilands accused his co‑host of being “off with the fairies” and of not pulling her weight, a claim rejected by O. The on‑air row culminated in Sandilands’ suspension of contact with the studio’s staff and ultimately prompted the show’s cancellation.

The settlement underscores the high stakes of celebrity radio contracts, with the KIIS FM duo’s 10‑year, 100 M A$ agreement representing the highest‑profile deal in Australian broadcast history.