Departure from the judging panel
Kyle Sandilands has announced he is stepping down from his role as a judge on Network Seven's Australian Idol. The radio host told the Seven Network on Friday morning that he would not renew his one-year contract, which is due to expire in September. Sandilands had been part of the show since its relaunch on Network Seven in 2023 and appears alongside fellow judges Marcia Hines and Amy Shark. The show's 11th season aired its finale in April.
Cited reason and the activist campaign
Sandilands said the decision was driven by a planned campaign by activist group the Mad F---ing Witches. According to Sandilands, the group had targeted potential clients of the show and clients from the previous season, creating problems for Channel Seven's sales team. Speaking to the publication, Sandilands said he wanted to insulate the show from the oncoming campaign. Seven was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of the report.
Settlement and subscription platform
Sandilands is preparing to launch his own paid subscription platform in mid-August. The new venture follows the out-of-court settlement of his unfair dismissal case against ARN for more than $12 million, after he had originally sued the network for $85 million. Sandilands was sacked by ARN earlier this year over alleged behaviour toward his longtime co-host Jackie "O" Henderson, with whom he had hosted The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Sandilands' decision to leave Idol comes shortly after resolving that dispute and ahead of his independent platform launch.
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