Kyle Sandilands looked downcast as he stepped out for breakfast with his personal assistant Tegan Kynaston in Los Angeles on Thursday, amid the fallout from his controversial comments about the Virgin Mary.
The 48-year-old beleaguered radio host escaped to the US after his remarks that the Virgin Mary was impregnated behind a camel shed angered Christian and Muslim listeners.
Kyle was seen pulling up at Mel’s Drive-In diner on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, before taking a seat alongside Tegan at a table out on the patio.
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A man’s got to eat: Kyle Sandilands looked downcast as he stepped out for breakfast with his personal assistant Tegan Kynaston in Los Angeles on Thursday, amid the fallout from his controversial comments about the Virgin Mary
He took a phone call as they waited for their meals to arrive, and at one stage showed Tegan something on his phone.
Tegan cracked a brief smile as she mulled over something on his screen, with Kyle seen peering from across the table.
After their food arrived, the solemn-looking pair didn’t seem to talk much, with both finishing off their meals in silence.
With a little help from his friends: The 48-year-old beleaguered radio host was joined by his personal assistant Tegan Kynaston
Clearly determined to keep a low profile, the controversial radio star stepped out in a pair of black cargo shorts and a plain black T-shirt.
He also donned a black LA Dodgers baseball cap, and wore white sneakers.
Meanwhile, in Sydney on Thursday, Kyle’s KIIS FM co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson said her colleague was devastated by the fallout from his ‘joke’.
Laughing it off: Tegan cracked a brief smile as she mulled over something on his phone screen, with Kyle seen peering from across the table
But she believed he’d bounce back from the controversy that had led to Christians and Muslims calling for him to be permanently taken off air.
Jackie had not spoken to her fellow KIIS 1065 breakfast presenter, but saw his apology from Los Angeles and knew he was ‘devastated’ by what he had done.
‘I know he is really sorry about what he said,’ she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.
Getting away: Kyle escaped to the US city after his remarks that the Virgin Mary was impregnated behind a camel shed angered Christian and Muslim listeners
Damage control: He was seen taking a phone call as they waited for their meals to arrive, and at one stage, appeared to have been showing Tegan something on his phone
‘And I think he’s really keen to address it once we get back on air. But I do know he’s genuinely upset that he’s hurt people.’
While Kyle apologised for his remarks last Friday and then again from LA on Wednesday, Jackie had until now remained silent.
Asked if she was worried about her longtime friend’s welfare, she said: ‘Oh, no, he’ll be fine.’
No repercussions: Kyle’s co-host, Jackie ‘O’ Henderson assumed their jobs would be safe in spite of the debacle: ‘I haven’t even spoken to KIIS. I’m assuming so’
‘I mean, Kyle’s been through things like this before but I think with this one he genuinely feels that people are affected and hurt by it.
‘He didn’t want that. It was never his intention, so I think he’s keen to bring it up on air.
‘He’ll be OK. I think people just need to hear it from him, you know. It’s just a shame we’ve been away all week and haven’t had a chance to [address the issue].’
Stepping out: Kyle was seen pulling up at a cafe in West Hollywood, before taking a seat alongside Tegan at a table out on the patio
The sound of silence: After their food arrived, the solemn-looking pair didn’t seem to talk much, with both finishing off their meals in silence
The top-rating FM hosts have been off work this week during a radio non-ratings period, with Kyle in the United States and Jackie at home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Jackie was confident both their jobs would be safe: ‘I haven’t even spoken to KIIS. I’m assuming so.’
Last Thursday, Kyle said of Jesus Christ’s mother on air: ‘I thought Mary was his girlfriend but apparently it was the mother.
Speaking out: Kyle’s KIIS FM co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson said her colleague was devastated by the fallout from his ‘joke’. Pictured outside her Sydney home on Thursday
‘And the mother lied obviously and told everyone, “Nah, I got pregnant by a magical ghost.” Bulls***.
‘Someone chock-a-blocked her behind the camel shed… You might believe everything that’s written down 2,000 years ago to be absolutely accurate, and good on you, you’re dumb. Dumb as dog s***.’
His remarks led to protesters of multiple faiths gathering outside the KIIS Sydney studios calling for the pair to be sacked.
Upset: Jackie had not spoken to her fellow KIIS 1065 breakfast presenter, but saw his apology from Los Angeles and knew he was ‘devastated’ by what he had done
Kyle had also been forced to hire security to guard his Sydney home.
Some of those offended by his ‘joke’ had questioned why footballer Israel Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia for saying unrepentant homosexuals would go to hell while the radio star had not be punished for his Virgin Mary comments.
‘I know there’s been a lot of comparisons with why is Israel not allowed to say it and Kyle is?’ Jackie added.
Apologetic: ‘I know he is really sorry about what he said,’ she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. Pictured at home on Thursday
‘It’s not about who’s allowed to say what. Kyle actually defended Israel during that time.
‘He always believed if that’s what Israel believed he should be able to say it, but these things hurt people so, you know, I think that’s where it gets tricky.’
Jackie said she understood why her co-host’s comments had upset so many people when asked if the protests had gone too far.
‘And the mother lied obviously and told everyone, “Nah, I got pregnant by a magical ghost.” Bulls***,’ Kyle said of the Virgin Mary
‘Do I think it’s gone too far? I think people get really emotional about this sort of stuff,’ she confessed.
And she was unsure whether there would be more protests outside the KIIS studios when the pair returned to work: ‘I don’t know actually. We’ll see what happens.’
A contrite Kyle insisted on Wednesday he had just been ‘trying to make people laugh’ and ‘never meant to hurt anyone’ with his ‘joke’ about Mary.
‘And I think he’s really keen to address it once we get back on air. But I do know he’s genuinely upset that he’s hurt people,’ said Jackie
‘Sometimes I just say things as a joke and it offends some people,’ he said outside the LA mansion where he was staying.
‘You don’t realise until you offend someone [and] when you hear about it, [you think]: “Oh f***, that’s pretty s***.”
‘When you’re a comedian you say funny things and you think you’re funny, but then you don’t realise you p*** some people off.
Checking in: Armed plain clothes police were among those to attend the area where Kyle lives with his girlfriend Imogen Anthony
‘I already put a statement out saying I never meant to p*** anyone off, I never meant to hurt anyone – I’m here to make people laugh, not to make them angry.’
That was good enough for the Australian Christian Lobby, which supported Folau when Rugby Australia sacked him.
‘We welcome Kyle’s apology,’ a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
Lashing out: The public backlash against Kyle continued this week after he shocked listeners last Thursday with an offensive joke about the Virgin Mary
A spokeswoman for Australian Radio Network, which employs Kyle and Jackie to present the Kyle & Jackie O Show, confirmed the stars would deal with the Virgin Mary controversy next week.
The apology came as radio watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority confirmed it had received more than 150 complaints about what Kyle had said.
Kyle’s private security detail has kept watch of his Sydney home since the shock jock received death threats in the wake of his comments.
Up to three guards at a time have been seen standing outside the house on Sydney’s lower north shore.
Police were called to the street on Wednesday after receiving reports of a suspicious vehicle, with three marked cars pulling up next to his house shortly before midday.
Officers spoke to nearby residents but did not enter the property Kyle shares with girlfriend Imogen Anthony.
‘Someone chock-a-blocked her behind the camel shed… You might believe everything that’s written down 2,000 years ago to be absolutely accurate, and good on you, you’re dumb,’ he said
Armed plain clothes police who arrived in an unmarked car were among those to attend the scene, but NSW Police confirmed there was no threat to Kyle or his property.
KIIS 1065, where the pair have worked since 2014, was inundated with dozens of protesters outside their Sydney studios on Monday morning.
Police were also called to intervene as Muslim and Christians prayed in the street and called for Kyle to be fired over his blasphemous comments.
Dragged into it: Listeners claimed Jackie should also be sacked, after she was seen laughing in a video of the segment posted on KIIS’s social media channel
Listeners claimed Jackie should also be sacked, after she was seen laughing in a video of the segment posted on KIIS’s social media channel, which was later removed.
Social media has been divided over the radio star’s remarks, with some backing his right to freedom of speech.
‘Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion but with respect and grace! He has offended so many people and gone too far!’ one listener wrote.
‘The lady laughing with him (Jackie) should be sacked as well, but then as Jesus says: “Forgive them… they don’t know what they say”,’ another said.
One supporter wrote: ‘This is why Kyle is worth millions of dollars. His whole career is built on a foundation of crude and insensitive remarks and jokes. I think he is hilarious. If you don’t like him or are a sensitive Sally, don’t listen to him.’
Another commented: ‘Seriously… everyone is entitled to their own opinions, so why should Kyle’s opinion be any different? Love ya, Kyle. Keep up the good work.’
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Monday, an Australian Radio Network spokeswoman apologised on behalf of the star.
‘As we said last week, we echo Kyle’s [apology] and unreservedly apologise for any offence that may have been caused,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘Last week when this content ran, we immediately recognised that it wasn’t appropriate for distribution and it was removed immediately.’
Sorry: In a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Monday, an Australian Radio Network spokeswoman apologised on behalf of the star
