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Jackie “O” Henderson was identified as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after working with Kyle Sandilands at KIIS FM, new documents lodged in her lawsuit against the radio station’s owner show.
In her first remarks about working with Sandilands after the demise of their show, Henderson said his behaviour was “unpredictable and erratic”, causing her to feel “worn down over time” and unsafe in the workplace, according to excerpts of a new affidavit released by the Federal Court on Tuesday.
The expert report by psychiatrist Dr Jonathan Phillips, excerpts of which were included in an updated defence lodged by Henderson’s employer against her lawsuit over the termination of her $100 million contract, made a series of findings about Henderson’s health.
Henderson’s contract was terminated in March after she said she could no longer work with Sandilands following an on-air bust-up two weeks prior in which he reduced her to the point of tears.
Phillips found she was suffering from PTSD as a result of Sandilands’ bullying, the failure of KIIS owner ARN to protect her and the publication of a statement to the ASX detailing the termination of her contract.
A separate letter from psychologist Dr Emma Agnew said the pattern of belittling behaviour alleged by Henderson was consistent with “behaviours commonly described as workplace bullying”. The public nature of Sandilands’ alleged conduct, and a perceived lack of support from ARN, “appears to have contributed to a decline in her emotional wellbeing”, Agnew said in a letter dated March 27.
The report from Phillips and the letter from Agnew were cited in ARN’s updated defence to a lawsuit filed by Henderson. Their full text was not made available.
In her affidavit, Henderson alleges a “shift” in the way Sandilands spoke to her on air in 2023, adding that she later felt worn down by Sandilands, with his behaviour contributing to her wanting to “give up”.
“What had previously felt like humour or banter started, at times, to feel different. The comments and putdowns became more pointed and less like they were said in fun and more like they were intended to belittle or humiliate me, and this became more difficult to tolerate over time,” Henderson said.
ARN updated its defence in a document released on Tuesday, saying that Henderson was responsible for her own health and safety at work because it hired her via her company, Henderson Media. It used the examples from the expert witnesses Henderson has drawn upon to argue that case.
ARN said if Henderson had suffered pain, distress or humiliation – which ARN denied – that was “caused or contributed to by Henderson Media failing to ensure the health and safety of Ms Henderson”.
In new court filings, the broadcaster argued Henderson Media failed to appropriately notify the company of the ongoing bullying she claims to have suffered.
Henderson’s own legal argument is also expected to, in part, rely on a letter written by Dr Justine Corry – a former clinical psychologist – dating to July 25 last year, in which Corry details the sustained impact Sandilands’ behaviour was having on her.
ARN disputes Corry’s credentials, arguing she was no longer a medical professional of any kind at this time and had a commercial relationship with Henderson. Corry, Henderson and her manager Gemma O’Neill were working together to sell a dating and relationships course called “Red Flag Project”, the filings say.
