Kyle Sandilands details mother’s battle with postnatal depression and being ‘hated by step-parents’

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Kyle Sandilands’ family heartbreak: Radio host says his mother’s postnatal depression meant he had an ’empty’ childhood – and admits he was hated by BOTH step-parents

By Jabeen Waheed For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Radio host Kyle Sandilands spoke candidly about his heartbreaking family history live on his KIIS FM breakfast show on Thursday. 

The topic of conversation began when he revealed that a recent public service announcement about postnatal depression had left him feeling ‘angry’ because it brought back painful memories of how his mother had rejected him as a child.

The 49-year-old confessed that he had ‘never been kissed or cuddled’ by his mother – and things became worse when his parents divorced because their new spouses ‘hated’ him too. 

Emotional: Radio host Kyle Sandilands spoke candidly about his heartbreaking family history live on his KIIS FM breakfast show on Thursday

Kyle played the offending advert, in which a desperate mother tells her therapist she once thought about abandoning her newborn child in a café.

Explaining why he was so upset, Kyle said: ‘My mum had postnatal depression. She didn’t just hate me as a teenager when she threw me out; she hated me from birth.

‘Her and dad had problems over it [postnatal depression] because they weren’t intimate, and he turned to alcohol, and things got violent.’

Becoming emotional, Kyle added: ‘My whole life, deep inside, I’ve been wondering, what did I do wrong as a teenager? I wasn’t a bad or a nasty kid.

‘She just hated me from the moment I crawled out of the vagina.’ 

Painful: The topic of conversation began when Kyle revealed that a recent public service announcement about postnatal depression had left him feeling 'angry' because it brought back painful memories of how his mother had rejected him as a child

Painful: The topic of conversation began when Kyle revealed that a recent public service announcement about postnatal depression had left him feeling ‘angry’ because it brought back painful memories of how his mother had rejected him as a child 

'Empty childhood': The 49-year-old confessed that he had 'never been kissed or cuddled' by his mother - and things became worse when his parents divorced because their new spouses 'hated' him too. Pictured with his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson

‘Empty childhood’: The 49-year-old confessed that he had ‘never been kissed or cuddled’ by his mother – and things became worse when his parents divorced because their new spouses ‘hated’ him too. Pictured with his co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson

Kyle, who clarified that his relationship with his mother had improved in recent years, added: ‘My childhood was empty and nothing. I wasn’t hugged and told I was loved.

‘Now me and mum force it in there [saying ‘I love you’] and it’s awkward as hell!’

Kyle’s brother Chris then called in to discuss the shock jock’s troubled childhood, telling him: ‘I don’t think mum kicked you out! It was [step-father] Pat.’

Looking back: Kyle's brother Chris then called in to discuss the shock jock's troubled childhood, telling him: 'I don't think mum kicked you out! It was [step-father] Pat'

Looking back: Kyle’s brother Chris then called in to discuss the shock jock’s troubled childhood, telling him: ‘I don’t think mum kicked you out! It was [step-father] Pat’

Shortly after, Kyle’s aunt Jill phoned in and defiantly stood up for her sister, saying: ‘She smothered you in love!’

However, Jill did acknowledge that her nephew was strongly disliked by both of his step-parents.

‘What hope did I have?’ Kyle pondered as they ended the conversation.

Another side of the story: Shortly after, Kyle's aunt Jill phoned in and defiantly stood up for her sister, saying: 'She smothered you in love!'

Another side of the story: Shortly after, Kyle’s aunt Jill phoned in and defiantly stood up for her sister, saying: ‘She smothered you in love!’