Kyle Sandilands had ‘no idea’ Jackie felt ‘bullied’ by him

More searing details have emerged about Kyle and Jackie O’s brutal August 2025 clash amid their separate $100 million battles.

A source has told news.com.au that Kyle will claim he was not made aware by ARN that Jackie was struggling to work with him before their on-air fight on February 20.

Jackie went on leave after that argument, and her lawyers sent a complaint letter stating that she had previously notified the broadcast of Kyle’s alleged conduct.

The letter, referred to in Jackie’s statement of claim, also claimed the network had not implemented “any control measures” to minimise the risk to Jackie.

Jackie was terminated shortly afterwards, with ARN claiming she said she couldn’t “continue” to work with Kyle.

Kyle was suspended at the same time, and later terminated for what ARN described to the ASX as “serious misconduct”. The Kyle and Jackie O Show was scrapped.

According to the complaint letter Jackie’s legal team sent to the network after February 20, on “previous occasions” she had notified the network of Kyle’s alleged “bullying”.

Both stars have now launched separate legal proceedings against ARN. Kyle wants to get back on air and see out his 10-year, $100 million contract.

Jackie is claiming that ARN failed to provide her with a safe workplace and that it terminated her unfairly, and is seeking “at least” $82 million in compensation.

In Jackie’s statement of claim tendered to the Federal Court, she claimed she complained several times about Kyle’s behaviour towards her to ARN.

The source told news.com.au Kyle will claim that those complaints weren’t passed along, even after a particular incident on August 20, 2025.

Jackie’s legal team argued in the statement of claim that besides the now-infamous February 20 fight, another key incident occurred last August.

In another on-air argument, this time about dating, Jackie’s lawyers alleged that Kyle behaved inappropriately and was being “offensive and degrading” towards Jackie.

In the segment that is still available to be listened to, Kyle dismissed Jackie’s dating beliefs as “psychobabble” and then claimed she’d never find anyone, reducing Jackie to tears.

News.com.au understands that Kyle will claim he did not receive any official feedback about that incident and only learned of the extent of her complaints from the statement of claim.

A source claimed said there was no “passing along” of concerns by ARN, and that they’re unsure why.

“I think maybe they were afraid or didn’t want to intervene … who knows, I don’t think it was part of some conspiracy,” the source said.

Although it is more than clear that Jackie was annoyed on air, the source told news.com.au that Kyle had “no idea” she was upset enough after August 20, 2025 to make an official complaint.

“Dating was on the table at certain times, and he had no idea (she was still upset) because she did not mention anything directly to Kyle,” the source said.

The source argued that Kyle’s callous comments on air about Jackie’s dating life are just an example of him publicly playing a “robust character”, which is an expectation of his contract.

“Kyle being like, ‘I dunno if you’re going to find anyone’, that is part of the parameters of the segment,” the source said.

In general, the source argued there was nothing shocking against Kyle in the statement of claim.

“There’s nothing there that is like, ‘oh wow, that is crazy’,” the source said.

In Kyle’s separate statement of claim, his lawyers argued that the “banter and tension” between Jackie and Kyle are a “central dynamic” to the show.

They argued that Kyle “performed the role of the dominant and abrasive personality who was deliberately outrageous and often offensive”, while Jackie played a “warmer and more emotionally attuned” character. ​

‘I am worried’: The on-air clash in August laid bare

The on-air clash last August referenced in the statement of claim lasted seven minutes, and Jackie was reduced to tears at one point. She then left the show and later returned.

During a conversation about dating, Jackie argued that sometimes, you can mistake “butterflies” for anxiety and you need to listen to your body when dating.

Kyle then said he was “worried” Jackie would never find anyone because of all her requirements, and argued that anxiety can just be horny excitement.

“I am worried about you, on another note, that you’ll (never) find anyone because of all these requirements,” he said.

Jackie then accused Kyle of not listening and of attacking her, but Kyle snapped back, saying he wasn’t attacking her.

Kyle asked, “Why don’t you get rid of all this rubbish you’ve learned and go out and date?”

He then claimed that Jackie always gets “angry” with him when he is just trying to understand what she is saying.

“Doesn’t she get angry with me when I don’t know all the lingo. She gets so agitated,” he said.

Jackie explained, “I get annoyed when you say I’ll never find anyone because I go on with all this garbage.”

Kyle argued that Jackie gets “angry” when he tries to challenge her. Jackie responded that she just gets “frustrated” when he goes on “the attack”.

Kyle told Jackie, “Out of everyone that you have met in your entire life, I’m the last person that is going to throw you under the bus or attack you or not want the best for you.”

Kyle added, “I am treated the worst, not that I care; we’ve actually got a good relationship.”

Jackie argued back that she does not think she treats him “poorly”, but Kyle continued on.

“If we weren’t working together, I’d be red-flagged out of your life. Yet I’ve been the most loyal to you ever,” he said.

Jackie tearfully said she felt “pushed” too far and then left the show, but later returned to finish the program.