Shock claims controversial female critics helped bring down radio titans Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson – could Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire be next?

The dramatic downfall of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s ‘radio empire’ may have been driven by more than just ratings pressure. 

Insiders now claim a powerful wave of backlash played a major role in destabilising the KIIS juggernaut behind the scenes.

And according to one source, ARN executives became increasingly rattled by what some internally began referring to as ‘the witches taking down the show’ – in reference to the activist group Mad F***ing Witches.

MFW is an Australian grassroots group that organises consumer boycotts against media figures and organisations accused of spreading misogyny, racism, and bigotry. 

‘The shocking thing is… the criticism absolutely got to them,’ claims one well–placed insider to Daily Mail. 

‘There was a growing feeling internally that influential female voices online, in media and within the industry had successfully shifted public perception around Kyle and Jackie O.’

The dramatic downfall of Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson’s ‘radio empire’ may have been driven by more than just ratings pressure. Insiders now claim a powerful wave of backlash played a major role in destabilising the KIIS juggernaut behind the scenes

The source alleges ARN executives became deeply reactive as controversy began snowballing around the breakfast show. 

Particularly as advertisers and audiences became more sensitive to issues involving sexism, bullying and inflammatory commentary.

‘For years the show survived scandals because ARN believed controversy was part of the brand,’ says the insider. 

‘But eventually there was this realisation that culturally the audience was changing and the criticism was starting to stick in a very dangerous way.’

Behind the scenes, insiders claim the fallout has left the network terrified that the same pattern could eventually impact its newest high-profile gamble, Eddie McGuire and Karl Stefanovic.

Although there has been no suggestion that Karl or Eddie have ever been accused of the conduct that MFW has been targeting, there are still fears that the group may nevertheless still seek to target them.

‘There are people internally warning this could happen all over again,’ alleges the source. 

‘The concern is that ARN may still be relying too heavily on old-school media personalities at a time audiences are becoming far less tolerant of ego-driven broadcasting.’

Behind the scenes, insiders claim the fallout has left the network terrified that the same pattern could eventually impact its newest high-profile gamble, Eddie McGuire and Karl Stefanovic

The insider claims some executives are privately worried the network misunderstood why audiences began turning away from KIIS in the first place. 

While ARN is publicly presenting Eddie and Karl as a sophisticated new direction for the company, some within Australian radio reportedly believe the partnership is already facing enormous pressure before properly launching.

‘People in radio are openly questioning whether this show lasts six months,’ claims another insider. 

‘The scrutiny around it is already intense.’

Still, supporters of the duo insist Karl and Eddie bring a very different energy to Kyle and Jackie O, with far stronger ties to mainstream television, sport, and family audiences.

But privately, industry figures say ARN’s nervous reaction to the Kyle and Jackie O backlash has exposed just how vulnerable commercial radio has become in the modern media landscape.

‘The entire industry is changing,’ says the source. 

‘And the people who challenged Kyle and Jackie O proved audiences now have far more power than networks ever expected.’

Daily Mail has reached out to ARN for comment.