Kyle Sandilands has quit Australian Idol, telling the Seven Network on Friday morning that he wanted to insulate the show from an oncoming campaign by activist group the Mad F---ing Witches, this masthead can reveal.

“I spoke with Channel Seven this morning, and those activists have attacked the potential clients for Australian Idol or the clients from last year, and has caused a problem in Channel Seven’s sales team,” Sandilands told this masthead on Friday, as part of a forthcoming interview.

“So I’ve told Channel Seven this morning, just prior to speaking to you, that I’m standing down from Idol for the good of the brand to continue,” he said.

Sandilands was part of the show’s relaunch on Network Seven in 2023, and currently appears alongside fellow judges Marcia Hines and Amy Shark.

The show’s 11th season aired its finale in April, and Sandilands said he will not be renewing his one-year contract in September.

Sandilands will launch his own new paid subscription platform in mid-August, after settling his unfair dismissal case against ARN out of court last month, having been sacked earlier this year over his alleged behaviour toward his long-time co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.

After suing ARN for $85 million, Sandilands ultimately settled his case for more than $12 million, enabling him to launch his own show Kyle Sandilands Live. The show will cost subscribers $99 per year.

Seven was approached for comment.

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