A former KIIS FM employee has taken a swipe at critics who are celebrating the end of The Kyle and Jackie O Show after hosts Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Kyle Sandilands officially parted ways this week.
Mitchell Coombs, 29, who was once the duo’s social media manager, posted a lengthy video detailing what it was like to work for the shock jocks.
Admitting that Kyle and Jackie were not ‘everyone’s cup of tea’, he told critics to think of the show’s staff who were stood down on Tuesday.
‘So, you’re allowed to hate them, but just like don’t be a d**k about it,’ Coombs said in his Instagram video on Wednesday.
Describing his time on the show as ‘memorable’, he added: ‘The fact they’re done and dusted is a weird feeling for a lot of us.
‘Sure, plenty of people were not fans of the show, but a lot of people are gonna be bummed about it ending. So just ease up, I reckon.’
Former KIIS FM employee Mitchell Coombs has taken a swipe at critics who are celebrating the end of The Kyle and Jackie O Show after hosts Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Kyle Sandilands officially parted ways this week
Admitting that Kyle and Jackie were not ‘everyone’s cup of tea’, he told critics to think of the show’s staff who were stood down on Tuesday
Telling followers he wanted to put his ‘two cents’ worth’ in about the end of one of Australia’s most enduring radio teams, Coombs recognised the show’s reputation.
‘I was the one who was running their social media for three or four years, so I’ve read it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. So I know that there’s certain people that want to celebrate their demise today,’ he said.
Coombs, who worked for KIIS FM between 2017 and 2021, also shared that he had spoken to former staffers who expressed shock and what he said was ‘the end of an era’.
He added that Kyle and Jackie ‘inspired’ many to get into radio and reminded that the pair had many die-hard listeners.
He said the controversial duo received many supportive messages from listeners over the years, and he would print them out for Sandilands to read.
‘He didn’t ask me to do that, and I just thought he should know, like the positive impact he’s having [with listeners saying] it was a comfort during real rough patches,’ he explained.
He concluded the video by saying the show’s explosive demise was a ‘sh** way to go’.
‘Like there was no final sendoff or any sort of victory lap, so yes, you’re allowed to hate them, but just don’t be a d*** about it,’ he said.
Coombs, who worked for KIIS FM between 2017 and 2021, also shared that he had spoken to former staffers who expressed shock and what he said was ‘the end of an era’
Coombs’ plea did not go down well with some of his followers, who celebrated the end of the KJO Show.
‘Nahh… no sympathy. They hurt a lot of people for clicks. Anyone who worked for them knew what they did,’ commented one person.
Another added, ‘Move with the times.’
‘And it’s not ironic or rage bait …people need to be called out.’
A third commented: ‘Yeah, nah, it was bloody awful.’
According to radio industry sources, KJO staff group chats have been blowing up as producers face an uncertain future, with some feeling like they have ‘nowhere else to go’ within the company, as ARN tightens its belt in response to falling revenue.
The Mail is told workers were ‘blindsided’ by the collapse of the popular program this week, which came after Kyle and Jackie got into a bust-up on February 20 over her interest in astrology – an argument that ended with her storming out of the studio in tears and eventually deciding to terminate her contract.
Now, the production team behind the radio show – which is huge by industry standards – are fearing the worst, with many feeling it is unlikely they will be redeployed elsewhere at ARN because there ‘aren’t any jobs’.
