Radio personality Kyle Sandilands has detailed the "embarrassing" and "humiliating" moment he had to inform his wife, Tegan, that his multi-million dollar contract with ARN had been terminated. The revelations come in a newly released trailer for the second episode of his docuseries, "At Home With Kyle," which chronicles the aftermath of his contract being axed.
"That was the most embarrassing thing I have ever had to do in my life," Sandilands said in the clip, recalling the conversation. "I stood up, took a breath and walked out. She was playing with our son Otto."
He described how his wife immediately sensed something was wrong. "She looked at me and just knew instantly that something was wrong. She stood up and asked what was wrong, and I said, 'They are trying to terminate the contract. They are going to fire me.'"
Sandilands recounted that his wife was in shock and struggled to process the news. "She said, 'Over what?' and hugged me. She is probably hiding a lot of pain. It just gets worse and worse," he said.
The veteran presenter also shared a never-before-seen clip filmed by his manager, Bruno Bouchet, in March, capturing his immediate reaction upon learning his contract had ended. "That was a me and Bruno moment where I didn't have to put on the brave husband or dad face," Sandilands told viewers.
Earlier, he had revealed the precise moment he discovered ARN intended to cancel his contract, following a significant fallout with co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson. Initially, Sandilands recalled believing the text message from his manager might concern Henderson's contract. After seeking clarification, he received a one-word reply: "Yours."
"I sat up out of bed and thought, 'What the f*** is going on here? This is an ironclad contract. I mean, a 70-page bible that was impenetrable," he said.
The prospect of losing his livelihood immediately raised concerns for his family and those who depended on him. "I've got this family. I've got businesses all over the place. I've got my own staff... everyone's got these mortgages. I've got $20 million worth of them," he stated.
Despite the circumstances, Sandilands asserted he harbors no ill will toward Henderson, referring to her as a sister and stating he would never speak ill of her. He revealed he texted her that they would remain "good" regardless of the situation. He expressed hope for her future success and acknowledged that the reasons for their relationship's collapse might never be fully understood.
The episode concluded with Sandilands recounting his anxious wait for a phone call that would determine his return to breakfast radio or his complete departure from ARN. "During all of this... all I'm thinking about is, am I gonna get that call? I'm back on air, or I'm fired. One or the other, what's it gonna be?" he said.
The docuseries segment ended with a newsreader's announcement: "Kyle and Jackie O, the famous radio show that reigned for 25 years, is finally over." A final shot showed Sandilands reacting to the news with visible heartbreak.