Jackie “O” Henderson has been accused of threatening a workplace harassment complaint to get out of her contract with employer ARN Media, court documents show.
In the new defence made public by the Federal Court on Thursday, ARN alleges Henderson wanted to stop working with Kyle Sandilands and sought her own radio timeslot.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jackie O accused of harassment threat to exit contract
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The radio giant claims Henderson used the harassment threat as a way to wriggle out of her contract.
The high-profile dispute stems from an on-air bust-up on February 20, when Sandilands hit out at his co-host, accusing her of letting her interest in astrology affect her work.
Henderson’s $100 million-dollar contact was subsequently terminated, but the former KIIS FM star alleges she was unfairly sacked after refusing to work with Sandilands.
She is seeking a full payout of the $82.25 million remaining balance of her contract in a wrongful termination suit and is expected to give evidence about the impact working with Sandilands had on her health and wellbeing.
Jackie ‘O’ Henderson has been accused of threatening a harassment complaint to secure a new radio timeslot. Credit: Sunrise, ARN
In the amended defence, ARN argued Henderson’s threats to initiate a workplace bullying claim with SafeWork NSW were not made in line with workplace law.
“That Ms Henderson and Henderson Media reserved their right to make a report to SafeWork NSW was not done in good faith and for a proper purpose,” the radio giant claimed.
Henderson had no intention of meaningfully pursuing a claim with the workplace watchdog because no proceedings were ever filed, the defence alleged.
“Instead (it was) to provide Ms Henderson and Henderson Media with an alternative daypart which (ARN) was not contractually obliged to provide,” the company argued.
ARN said Henderson always had the option of making a formal bullying complaint but, under the terms of her contract, would have had to continue working with Sandilands while the matter was being adjudicated.
Henderson is expected to respond to the allegations in the coming months. Her former co-host, Sandilands, settled his case with ARN in June. Credit: Getty, AAP
The network also claimed evidence from Henderson’s manager, Gemma O’Neill, indicated Henderson had already decided to move to another program.
Another section of the amended defence argues Henderson should be required to repay the value of a loan used to purchase shares in ARN because her contract was validly terminated.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Friday, entertainment editor Peter Ford described the claim as “serious” and “deeply offensive to Jackie” as the legal battle escalates.
“This is going to be a brutal game. There’s so much money at stake here,” Ford said.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August, with the trial set to begin in late October. Henderson is expected to respond to the allegations in the coming months.
Sandilands settled his case with ARN in June, receiving a $12 million payout.
He has since announced plans for a new subscription-based show that will employ some of those made redundant when The Kyle and Jackie O Show went off air.
– With AAP
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