Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s ex-husband ‘Ugly’ Phil O’Neil has broken his silence after she sensationally quit The Kyle & Jackie O Show, following an explosive feud with co-star Kyle Sandilands.
The veteran radio presenter, who was married to Henderson from 1993 – 1999 and helped her get her start in the industry, shared a telling post to social media on Wednesday, in which he reflected on his ex-wife’s axing.
Phil shared a social media grab from a listener which said, ‘Bring back Ugly Phil’, calling for him to take over the reins on the KIIS FM breakfast show, and captioned it with some telling words.
‘Yes it is true. I am the big radio story of the day. But I have nothing further to add. Thank you,’ Phil wrote.
Phil gave Henderson her start in the industry by bringing her in as a frequent guest on his Triple M Adelaide show Phil O’Neil’s Hot 30.
Following their split, Jackie continued her radio career and began a long-running professional partnership with Kyle Sandilands in 2000, which lasted until February 20, when it sensationally exploded following an on-air feud.
It follows reports that The Kyle & Jackie O show has collapsed amid a high-profile feud between the hosts.
KIIS FM’s parent company ARN announced on Tuesday that Henderson’s $100million contract has 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.
Sandilands has been suspended and given 14 days to ‘remedy’ the breach, or else faces 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.
Daily Mail has reached out to Henderson and Sandilands for comment.
Sandilands and Henderson signed a 10-year deal with Australian Radio Network (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.
Henderson, 51, has been AWOL from the Kyle & Jackie O show since Friday, 20 February, after Sandilands, 54, 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 got angry at 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 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 has 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.