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Australian Idol axes Sandilands

Updated: TEN dumps controversial judge Kyle Sandilands from its family friendly show. Sandilands says he is "disappointed."

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ksKyle Sandilands has been dumped from Australian Idol.

His axing follows a radio controversy last week in which a 14 year old girl admitted she had been raped at the age of 12 during a “lie detector” stunt.

TEN issued a statement saying: “We thank Kyle for his contribution to Australian Idol over the last four years but it has become increasingly clear that as Idol has remained a family focused show, even more so this year with the 6.30pm Sunday time slot, his radio persona has taken on a more controversial position over this period which is not in the interest of the show.

“Australian Idol is firmly a family program and the recent controversy surrounding Kyle’s radio program (The Kyle and Jackie O show) has highlighted more than ever the conflicting attitude of the two careers.

Sandilands, who also told Austereo he was unable to continue his radio show at this time, will be seen in the first three audition/Top 100 episodes of Idol, which were filmed a number of weeks ago.

FremantleMedia Australia is supportive of TEN’s decision.

Discussions regarding a replacement judge will continue over the coming weeks with a new judge to join Marcia Hines and Ian “Dicko” Dickson for the live performance shows, which commence on August 24th.

Updated: In response, King Kyle Management issued a brief comment: “I’m disappointed at Channel 10’s decision to remove me from Australian Idol. I have truly loved being a part of the show and wish everyone involved all of the sucess for this coming season.”

Australian Idol returns for its seventh series this Sunday at 6:30pm on TEN.

102 Responses

  1. i don’t want to sit here and defend kyle and jackie o but really when it comes down to it producers and executives give the final approval to these things. now i’m not in the meeting but i’m pretty sure they (kyle and jackie o) didn’t contact the guy with the lie detector and force him to hook the girl up (and where is the blame for his part in this?he’s the one who can see the emotional distress on his screen). really the real issue of this situation has to be the rape. was the radio segment in bad taste? yes of course it was, but if the girl hadn’t said she was raped would anyone be talking about this? they do these stunts all the time and the media never jumps on it like this. i think the real focus needs to be on getting this girl help.
    when it comes down to it these people do sign up for these things. is it a terrible exploitation of people’s emotions? probably, but the radio station doesn’t go looking for these people they come to them because they feel that they are the only ones who can help. of course this is a grey area but people listen-lots of people listen. as long as they are there and the show is playing by the rules (or at least staying in the grey area) these things will continue to happen.
    for 10 to fire him is a big call as he is already part of the show and by the time his stuff has stopped being aired people will have moved on. really all its going to do is bring it up again when he disappears. i just wonder how much it has to do with 10 wanting to have rotating guest judges and this just being the perfect opportunity.

  3. I know it would never happen, but how cool would it be if they could get Chris Isaak to replace Kyle. He was great in his guest spot last year, hilarious as always. Plus he’s an honourary Aussie consideing how much he tours down here.

  5. Well ten are no dummies, I think where they say controvercial, read sexual. I mean the radio show has sure become raunchy over the years, when he started on tv he was a loud mouth on the radio which is all well an good but that show is now all, who’s got the smalles penis, lets jack off into a cup live on radio, why’s a 16 yo kid a virgin. Um maybe beacuse he’s a bloody kid.

    As for that Jackie O, what a sorry excuse for a woman. She’s dispicable, i hear she runs the editorial meetings whereas dumbass just turns up. So that means she knows (and pushes) well in advance all the vile crap they are about to do on radio, acts all innocent and pushed her radio mate front and centre to take all the blame. Damn, that’s cold.

  7. For all of you going about a delay, apparently they refuse to use one.

    Also this has been a long time coming, Kyle & Jackie O have been getting away with stuff like this for too long.

  8. Those who are wishing for the return of Mark Holden will be disappointed to know that he is studying to become a lawyer, according to last week’s Herald Sun. He can be seen attending several court hearings in Melbourne.
    I am watching Idol whether or not Kyle is a judge.

  11. Media Watch devoted almost the entire episode tonight to Kyle and Jackie, and it was (justifiably) scathing.

    If you missed it, be sure to watch the repeat tomorrow night.

  12. I rarely ever weigh into these ‘moral panic’ stories, but i have to agree with the consensus that alarm bells should have rung at the station prior to the segment. It’s not just Kyle who is at fault, but his co-host, the mother, all the producers, etc.

    This situation is vastly different to the Chaser incident, as the chaser joke did not humiliate or take advantage of real people, let alone a 14 year old, for ratings. If anyone missed tonight’s Media Watch, i suggest catching up.

  13. Kyle was such a tool on Big Brother last year, I’m surprized that Ten even considered him for this years idol in the first place. I’m definitely not sad that he’ll only be on the first three episodes of Idol this year.

  17. everything has been taken out of context, although im not a huge fan of kyle – i dont think he deserves this. i mean why did they put him as a judge in the first place? because his controversial. Since they fired kyle from australian idol i hope they dont cancel The Kyle And Jackio Show, because that would be unfair to thousands of listeners and especially, Jackie. i mean firing him from idol is fair enough but canceling both of his gig together? thats just harsh

  18. I actually think we can thank MasterChef for this. The powers that be have realised you don’t arrogant cruelty to make a show a success. Make Julie the new judge! – or Holden will do.

  19. @Alvin: If that’s the case, and there was an even longer silence, and yet the only comment kyle could come up with was “and thats your only experience” then it only makes it worse for him. If it was a snap of the moment response, then you can’t blame him for being lost of words, otherwise if he had a few moments to think about what to say, then that makes it more inappropriate.

  20. A very brave decsion on Tens part.Well done.I do not know why someone like KS can be constantly employed by anyone.He is a self absorbed,obnoxious waste of space.His comments on Idol to some of the young women is totally offensive.
    What the show needs is another singer,Daryl Braithwaite comes to mind.Someone with a lot of experience,highs and lows,light and shade,eh Marcia?
    I will watch the show if the singing is up to par,but please no more Maria Carey wannabes as heard in the promos,pleease?

  21. @Alvin

    So you’re saying Sandilands had time to think about his response to the girls rape confession, yet still quizzed her about her sex life. Thats even worse !!

  22. well there goes my reason to watch this new series of Idol. It is so shocking how society and the media immediately jump the gun the first chance they get to attack someone they already dislike. What gets me is why no one is pointing figures at the mother who put her daughter on live radio under a lie detector in the first place!

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