Radio host Kyle Sandilands has defended his on-air comments about domestic violence, following criticism from activist group Mad F***ing Witches (MFW).
Speaking on The Kyle & Jackie O Show this morning, Sandilands said his remarks were based on personal experience and expressed frustration that the conversation had been labelled “performative nonsense.”
Personal reflections on domestic violence
During the broadcast, Sandilands spoke candidly about his upbringing, stating, “Well, not just that, but I grew up in that situation, you know, with my mum. We fled.”
He emphasised that his comments were rooted in personal experience rather than performance.
Sandilands expressed confusion over the backlash, noting, “Everyone should be talking about domestic violence in a negative way in a concerned way.”
He suggested that both he and MFW share a common concern regarding domestic violence, saying, “So, if anything, for once, we’re both singing out of the same hymn book, right? Like, they don’t like it. We don’t like it.”
MFW founder Jennie Hill
Critique of MFW’s response
Addressing MFW’s criticism, Sandilands questioned the group’s intentions: “They don’t do proof. These people with the mad effing witches… they make money off hating us.” He alleged that the organisation benefits financially from opposing his show.
Sandilands also made claims about the group’s leadership, stating, “Now, just so everyone’s aware, the family that run this, they’re not squeaky and shiny. Like the son who’s on the board. He’s written the most offensive [things] and done drawings. If anyone’s anti-women, it’s the son of the woman who runs this. He’s done some unhinged horrible things, drawings and comments about women.”
Co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson added, “There’s also money to earn in other ways that don’t kind of just feed off hatred towards someone.”
Proposal for collaboration
Despite the criticism, Sandilands extended an offer to collaborate with MFW on domestic violence advocacy: “I’d like to make an offer to the woman who runs the Mad Witches. Let’s do something together real to stop domestic violence or to assist people that are suffering. Let’s hold hands and do something. With your army of people. Five people.”
He downplayed the group’s influence, remarking, “No, they’re doing nothing. Like it’s just a bunch of old ladies in a country town in Victoria somewhere. Who cares? Let them carry on.”
MFW has previously campaigned against The Kyle & Jackie O Show, accusing it of promoting misogynistic content. Their efforts have included urging advertisers to withdraw support from the program.
‘Loony tunes’
Sandilands’ decision to address the group on air this morning followed his appearance at the IMAA Sound Bites event in Sydney on Thursday, where he also spoke about the impact the campaigns have had on the show’s advertisers.
“We can’t have a discussion with these people because they are just loony tunes,” he told the room, which was full of representatives from Australia’s major radio and podcasting networks.
“My manager Bruno did point out that they actually earn money off hating me and Jackie. That’s how they earn. So if there’s no hate towards me, there’s no gifts from their followers.
“And the gifts from the followers keeps the mad witch, the chief witch, driving around in her Porsche Cayenne doing shopping at Westfield all day. Now to me that’s disingenuous.”