‘I’m very, very sad’: Kyle Sandilands opens up about mental health battle following ‘clickbait’ 60 Minutes episode
Radio presenter Kyle Sandilands spoke candidly this morning about his mental health struggles, saying he’s ‘very, very sad’, but that Sunday night’s 60 Minutes interview wasn’t ‘the right forum’ to discuss it.
Sandilands and Kiis FM co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson spoke with Nine’s Karl Stefanovic on 60 Minutes with the promo running before the episode promising the radio host would reveal a ‘secret health battle’ which was then unveiled to be a joke.
"Inside I’m very sad."
Kyle reveals the truth behind his sick days and that 60 Minutes gag.
If you or someone you know is struggling, Lifeline is available for support on 13 11 14. pic.twitter.com/HAVbn3yRgl
— Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo) May 24, 2020
During the 60 Minutes episode, Sandilands became very emotional and hinted he was severely unwell, which was then used heavily in the promotion of the episode. When viewers watched the entire interview though, the reveal was that Sandilands was joking.
Speaking on their breakfast radio program this morning, Henderson and Sandilands said they were unaware 60 Minutes would promote the episode so heavily on the gag.
“I didn’t think they’d promo it like that, as if I was going to die,” Sandilands said.
Henderson, who had been appearing on the episode alongside Sandilands to celebrate 20 years of their radio hosting partnership, said she had asked producers following the filming if they would be using the gag.
Chaos, controversy and undeniable chemistry. @KyleandJackieO have ruled the Australian airwaves for 20 years. SUNDAY on #60Mins, how the King and Queen of radio have turned being outrageous into a hundred million dollar business. pic.twitter.com/k87KnPgqrd
— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) May 20, 2020
Sandilands caught Henderson by surprise this morning when the duo spoke about the episode, saying the reason he was able to draw on the emotions he used while filming the gag was because he is struggling with mental health issues.
“The honest truth of why I was about to cry with all that breakdown stuff is because inside, I’m very, very sad. But it wasn’t the right forum to bring it up,” Sandilands told his co-host this morning.
“When you said, ‘I’m very worried about him’. A wave of emotion went through me, and I realised I was losing control, so I had to make something up as a joke.”
“(People) look at me and think, ‘yeah, you’re a fat bastard, you should be sad’,” he said. Henderson suggested he hadn’t ‘been having a great time lately’ and Sandilands responded with “not for a long time”.
The pair discussed Sandiland’s sick days and why he felt ‘so alone’ during the segment. Henderson assured Sandilands she was always checking in and would support him through his battles.
The segment did also touch on Sandiland’s health, with the host saying he has high blood pressure which resulted in him ‘looking like a beetroot’ during filming.
Sandilands and Henderson also took calls during the program from viewers who were angry over the 60 Minutes episode. The TV program also drew ire on social media for its promotion of the interview.
One thing for @kyleandjackieo to pull a prank about a life threatening illness. That’s on brand. Different thing for @60Mins to use it in a promo knowing they wouldn’t be delivering. That’s off brand.
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) May 24, 2020
If you or someone you care about needs support, please contact:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
60 minutes…used to be credible journalism..not anymore and that story is prime example.
User ID not verified.
Most people I am sure will be aware of the old opera singers who continued to giving concerts for years after their vocal magnificence had paled into a dry and droning tone, reduced in range and lustre, and with a pulsating semitone of undulation under pressure. They did this sometimes because they were broke, but more often because they were addicted to applause.
There are also celebrities, of varying dimensions, and whose entitlement may stand on solid stone or sandy land, who believe that any publicity is good publicity so long as they spell their names correctly. Publicity, like applause, may be highly addictive.
User ID not verified.
Depression is an illness and shouldn’t be joked about.
User ID not verified.