Jackie O walking off radio show with Kyle Sandilands proves her power

Jackie O and Kyle Sandilands ditched their show and what happened next demonstrates why just why Jackie O did it.

OPINION

Jackie O leaving the airwaves on Friday was a loud reminder that she’s one of the most important voices in radio. Her storm out was a flex.

On Friday, KIIS FM hosts Kyle Sandilands, and Jackie O abandoned their radio show over an in-house saga.

The pair were interviewing 2GB legend Alan Jones when they were dumped from the air mid-conversation. After some back and forth with their team, both Sandilands and Jackie O called it quits for the day.

Kyle and Jackie O ditched their show on Friday after on-house disagreements with management. Picture: Twitter.

It’s not unusual for Sandilands to throw in the towel over a dispute. Earlier this year, he stormed off the show after defending NSW’s former Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Usually, when he leaves, Jackie O is left to pick up the pieces and keep the show going. Kind of like when Dad storms out of Christmas Day, and Mum still has to get the lunch on the table.

This time though, Jackie O headed for the exits alongside Sandilands, and her absence left a gaping hole. It can be easy to forget how powerful and important Jackie O is because she plays a different role than her co-host, she’s a quiet achiever while Sandilands is the class clown.

She doesn’t go on tirades or have meltdowns. Even during her divorce, she remained incredibly private despite hitting the airwaves every day. She also doesn’t generate headlines the way Sandilands does.

Sure, she still pulls in sponsorships and has a slew of celebrity mates, including Sophie Monk, but she rarely graces gossip magazines. Still, don’t mistake those facts for lowering her worth, and Jackie O reminded everyone how significant her worth is because when she left the show on Friday and it was worthless without her.

Jackie O is just as important as Kyle Sandilands. Picture: Instagram @kyleandjackieo

Jackie O calmly spends her days reasoning and bantering with Sandilands. She’s witty, smart, and calm. Sometimes her sheer talent can be eclipsed by Sandilands antics. It can be easy to forget it isn’t just the Sandilands show.

Sure, she may have a slightly different role. To use a Friends metaphor, Sandilands is the Joey, and she’s the Monica of the duo. But while Joey might get all the silly lines and attention, some of the show’s most memorable moments are because of Monica. Similarly, you could say that Sandilands is the Hamish and Jackie O is the Andy.

Fabulously Sandilands has always known Jackie O’s worth. In April 2021, he spoke to Mia Freedman’s No Filter podcast about how he felt “paralysed” when in 1999 he realised he was getting paid significantly more than his co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson. At the time he was earning $258,000 a year, and Henderson told him she was on $80,000.

“I was like, ‘What do you mean you get $80k? You’re Jackie O’. I just assumed we were getting the same. I didn’t know there was diversity or difference. I knew nothing about that,” he told Freedman.

Sandilands claimed he then went to management and demanded their pay be equal. He even offered to drop his salary so Jackie O could get paid the same. Ultimately, the station agreed to give her pay parity.

Kyle and Jackie O are a team and she plays just as big of a part as him. Picture: Twitter.

Still, it shouldn’t be surprising that Sandilands understands Jackie O’s worth. Every day, she gives him space and is the bouncing board that allows him to do his thing.

Without Jackie O offering the calm to Sandilands storm, the show would come across as too brash and mean-spirited. She brings warmth and heart to the airwaves and brings out the best in Sandilands.

Jackie O can defuse awkward moments and often works as his translator when he puts his foot in it. For instance, during a recent apology over Sandilands using ableist language, Jackie O was beside him clarifying what he meant.

When Jackie O strutted out on Friday, it reminded us that she is the most powerful woman in radio, but not just the most powerful woman. She’s the most powerful personality on our airwaves, full stop.

Mary Madigan is a freelance writer.