Radio host Kyle Sandilands sensationally threatened to quit his top-rating breakfast show on Tuesday over a disagreement with KIIS FM management.
He started the broadcast at 6am in a filthy mood after discovering senior managers had removed the much-hyped Most Beautiful Penis Pageant from the podcast edition of The Kyle and Jackie O Show.
Sandilands, 49, claimed he’d been ‘lied to by station management’ who allegedly told him the Most Beautiful Penis Pageant would be included uncensored on The Kyle and Jackie O podcast – which is one of the most popular in Australia.
Ropeable: Radio host Kyle Sandilands sensationally threatened to quit his top-rating breakfast show on Tuesday over a disagreement with KIIS FM management
When he woke up to discover the segment, which he’d been trying to get on air for months, had been edited out of the podcast he was ropeable.
He offered a stern warning to station management and vowed to find out which executive was responsible for the decision.
‘You don’t go up against me or you’ll be finished,’ he said. ‘I wish I could name a name but I don’t know a name yet.’
Sandilands’ co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, 46, was less outraged by the podcast snub but was nonetheless confused as to why it was edited out.
Where did it go? He started the broadcast at 6am in a filthy mood after discovering senior managers had removed the much-hyped Most Beautiful Penis Pageant from the podcast edition of The Kyle and Jackie O Show
‘The Penis Pageant is happening on our show; we’ve just got to make sure it’s on our podcast. I don’t understand. It if can be heard here…’ she said.
‘[On other] podcasts people are saying so much worse. There’s a lot of freedom of speech on there. [On] podcasts they’re saying anything they want to..’
Sandilands added: ‘I don’t think our company understands audio. Get a grip. One more lie from this management and you’ll never see me again.’
He then backed down on his threat slightly by making a joke about having ‘to rob banks to survive’ without his radio salary.
Dispute: Sandilands, 49, claimed he’d been ‘lied to by station management’ who allegedly told him the Most Beautiful Penis Pageant would be included uncensored on The Kyle and Jackie O podcast – which is one of the most popular in Australia
But jokes aside, he seemed genuinely angry and upset that management had gone behind his back by removing his beloved Penis Pageant from the podcast.
He concluded: ‘Anyway, the witch hunt will continue behind the scenes, and when I find out the culprit, they will be exposed for the lying dog they are.
‘Tricking and lying and ducking and weaving. How embarrassing. It’s embarrassing.’
It’s not uncommon for content broadcast on live radio to be removed when a show is uploaded as a podcast on Apple, Spotify or other audio streaming platforms.
This is typically done to cover up gaffes, but sometimes it’s due to legal concerns.
Legally problematic content broadcast on live radio often doesn’t result in any consequences for stations because live radio is considered an ephemeral medium – in other words, it is aired once then ‘disappears’ and is forgotten.
But when the content uploaded onto the Internet, it becomes more permanent and searchable on Google, which can result in complaints down the track.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted KIIS FM for comment.
The radio duo announced last week they would be holding their long-awaited Most Beautiful Penis Pageant, after months of negotiations with management and lawyers at KIIS FM.
Sandilands, 49, was particularly enthusiastic about the concept, which he first proposed on air last year, declaring: ‘This is the greatest day of my life.’
Network bosses had previously expressed concerns about the ethics and legality of such a contest, and were especially worried about minors sending in explicit photos.
The pageant itself will be held on May 17, when five men will strip down in the studio.
However, entrants must describe their genitals rather than submit photos.
‘Because we can’t receive actual pictures, because it could be pictures of someone else or revenge porn… what you do is you describe your penis and why it’s so beautiful,’ Henderson said.
Questions on the entry form include ‘Why do you deserve to be in the Most Beautiful Penis Pageant?’ and ‘What alias you would like to use on air to conceal your identity?’
Further explaining the rules, Henderson said: ‘Apparently you’ve got to put them in some unitard where everything’s covered except for a hole for the penis.
‘So we’re not distracted by the beauty of someone.’
‘Or the grossness,’ added Sandilands. ‘We are only judging by penis and penis alone.’
The winner will get $1,000 and a sash ‘which will drape around your penis declaring you as the most beautiful penis in the world,’ said Sandilands.
They will also receive a ‘little crown that fits right on the end of your penis’.
Meanwhile, the Most Beautiful Penis Pageant has been the subject of much behind-the-scenes legal wrangling at KIIS FM.
Sandilands risked getting himself in trouble with his own lawyer on Friday after reading a confidential legal letter live on air.
The letter outlined how senior KIIS FM staffers must sign a waiver before male listeners are permitted to strip down in the studio in front of them.
Sandilands found the formal wording of the letter amusing and so decided to read it aloud, but there was an awkward moment when he reached the part of the letter that stated its contents were supposed to be strictly confidential.
‘I’m going to read my letter,’ the shock jock began.
‘”Dear Kyle, I refer to the document which was submitted to us Wednesday, May 5, from ARN” – which is Australian Radio Network – “deed of consent for Kyle and Jackie O’s Most Beautiful Penis Pageant.
‘”Following is the advice, which is confidential and not for publica…” Oh, not for publication.’
Despite the fact the letter expressly stated the contents were confidential, Kyle continued anyway.
Reading the letter, he went on: ‘”Whilst I’m comfortable with you signing what essentially amounts to a waiver for the Most Beautiful Penis Pageant, it’s important that I explain what this entails.
‘”Clause three states that you” – me, right? – “accept all risk associated with the Most Beautiful Penis Pageant. These risks include, but are not limited to, 1) Being exposed to full-frontal male nudity” – that’s fine – “2) Being exposed to unsolicited images of penises, scrotums and potentially anuses…” Imagine the poor person writing this letter! Some poor paralegal sitting there typing this up.’
Sandilands continued: ‘”We know that if you were to be traumatised through the exposure to nudity etc. or physically injured that you have no legal recourse in recouping any damages through the Australian Radio Network.”‘
Henderson added: ‘I don’t think we have to worry about that, do we?’
Sandilands went on, quoting the letter: ‘”It is important to acknowledge that any physical or psychological harm that would stem from being host, judge and creator of Most Beautiful Penis Pageant are solely your responsibility.
‘”While this type of activity may appear to be fun, there are real-life consequences with much to be considered from partaking in this type of activity.'”
KIIS FM newsreader Brooklyn Ross then asked: ‘So are you going to sign the waiver?’
‘Yeah, I’m going to sign the waiver,’ Kyle responded. ‘It just means I can’t sue if someone comes in here and stabs me to death during it.’
Sandilands found it baffling that anybody could be traumatised by a penis pageant, and asked his producers if they’d already signed the waiver.
They all said they had signed except for Jackie, who admitted she hadn’t yet but intended to once her manager had read over it.