A push to dump Kyle Sandilands from Seven’s Australian Idol has gained momentum as activist group Mad F—ing Witches continues to lobby advertisers ahead of the show’s grand final.
Australian Idol holds its grand final episodes on Monday and Tuesday night this week and Mad F—ing Witches says it wants to see Sandilands removed as a judge on the television show from 2027.
It comes as Sandilands’ $100 million contract with ARN was terminated in March following an on-air argument with his co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and allegations of serious misconduct. Sandilands has now launched legal action against the company, arguing his termination of his contract was invalid because there was no act of serious misconduct.
Meanwhile, Henderson has also launched her own legal proceedings, accusing ARN of failing to act on repeated complaints she had made about Sandilands’ on-air behaviour.
For nearly two years, Mad F—g Witches had put sustained pressure on the KIIS breakfast radio show by targeting its advertisers, ensuring they were aware of the misogynistic content of the show. The campaign had successfully eaten into the radio show’s advertising revenue before it was taken off air earlier this year.
According to Mad F— Witches, two thousand advertisers deserted the Kyle and Jackie O Show over a period of nearly two years.
Speaking to Women’s Agenda, Mad F—ing Witches founder Jennie Hill said: “We’re glad he’s not there [anymore], because the content that he was saying every day on air was very damaging to women and people in minority groups.”
“So he’s not on the air. That’s great. It’s fantastic.”
The campaign group is set on ending Sandilands’ run on Australian Idol, with Hill estimating between 50 and 100 advertisers have already withdrawn from the singing talent show amid their campaign.
“Even though Kyle’s behavior isn’t as bad on Idol as it was on radio, he’s demonstrated that he’s not a fit person to be broadcasting anywhere in Australia,” Hill said.
“Which is why we’re also talking to Idol advertisers, as well as on the KIIS radio show.
“We’ll do that until the show finishes tomorrow, and then at this stage, we’re intending to start the campaign again in early 2027 if Kyle’s back on Australian Idol next year.”
On Facebook, Mad F—ing Witches shared a video from Australian Idol, highlighting a recent incident where fellow judge Amy Shark shut Sandilands down after he repeatedly interrupted her.
“The clip is just one instance from a few weeks ago when Amy finally cracked it after Kyle repeatedly interrupted her and Marcia Hines during taping. He continues to act as if his voice is the only one which matters, and his opinions the only ones which count,” Mad Fucking Witches said.
“It’s poor role modelling for young people watching, it’s highly irritating, and it’s clearly misogynistic in tone and intent. And it should fucking stop.”
Sandilands has previously said his Australian Idol contract, reportedly worth $1 million, renews on one-year terms.
Mad F—ing Witches said some “fascinating” outcomes are already happening in relation to Channel 7’s advertisers for the show.
“We’re truly seeing the same fascinating outcomes we saw on the radio show, such as advertisers appearing more than once in the same ad slot (unheard of a few weeks ago since it’s anathema for broadcasters who don’t want consumers to get bored with the same ads); plus much smaller ad slots (only around 10 to 14 in each ad break when there used to be up to 20); and an increase in free or donated slots (for charities and non-profits, who don’t pay for ads but the broadcaster still earns income via tax deductions),” they said.