The collapse of the Kyle and Jackie O radio partnership highlights a contradiction in Australian media culture – a society that condemns misogyny yet rewarded a program built on vulgarity, sexism and humiliation.

The astonishingly successful Kyle and Jackie O radio show on KIIS FM is dead.

Jackie “O” Henderson resigned and Kyle Sandilands has been suspended for 14 days after he attacked her on air, accusing her of underperforming and being “off with the fairies” in what he said was her  fixation with astrology.

The fact their partnership lasted 27 years and was one of the most successful in radio history invites a reflection on the contradiction between the kind of society we say we want and the kind of media we prize.

We live at a time of social divisiveness and say we want respectfulness. We live at a time when women are killed by their intimate partners at the rate of about  one every eight days. We say it’s a scourge that must stop.

And yet this program, which showcased  disrespect and misogyny, topped the Sydney radio ratings for many years and its presenters were paid  eye-watering sums to keep it going.

It is true it  flopped in Melbourne and was primarily a Sydney phenomenon, but the show was intended to become national.

In anticipation of a national rollout,........

© Pearls and Irritations