Kyle Sandilands defends cutting vaccine queue: 'Celebrity privilege'

Kyle Sandilands has been called out for cutting in front of a 120-person queue in order to get his first COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday night.

The shock jock defended his line-skipping skills at Westmead Hospital in Western Sydney, saying he was simply using his 'celebrity privilege' to get VIP treatment.

Kyle called out

On Wednesday morning, KIIS FM host Kyle, who turns 50 on June 10, was informed live on-air that he'd been busted by a member of the public who was waiting in line for the jab at the same hospital.

The person had posted a now-viral Reddit thread announcing: "Kyle Sandilands cut in front of me in the vaccine line... Not the least bit surprised".

Confronted with the accusation, Kyle did not deny it, and instead declared: "That's right, that's celebrity privilege right there".

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His co-host, Jackie 'O' Henderson, asked just how many people Kyle had cut in front of on his way into the hospital.

"Probably about 70 people," he replied. "And then in the waiting room there was probably another 50 people, I walked straight through past them.

"But that is what happens when you are white, old, fat, male and a celebrity. Privilege still exists."

'Escorted by media'

In true Kyle style, however, it appears as though the controversial personality is living up to his reputation and simply stirring the pot.

His management team confirmed he hadn't physically pushed in in a statement to Daily Mail, which was corroborated by the Reddit user in later comments.

They wrote that they weren't upset that Kyle had jumped the queue but rather amused by the fanfare surrounding the radio star's arrival.

"The optics of the huge line and him pulling up in his Bentley were just too funny not to share. I think if this encourages his listeners to go get the jab, I'm all for it.

"He didn't physically push in. He was escorted by media. [I'm] not genuinely upset. Just found it entertaining during my boring wait."

'One needle to save us all'

Footage from Kyle's vaccine visit was shared on the Kyle & Jackie O Show's Instagram account, showing Kyle shaking hands with a hospital staffer in a pink vest while walking past the queue and into the building.

In the clip, Kyle encourages others to get the vaccine and admits that he can't understand the apprehension, saying: "It's one needle to save us all."

He's not the first Aussie celeb to attract attention for receiving the Covid jab. Earlier in the week, The Project host Carrie Bickmore copped backlash from anti-vaxxers after posting a selfie after getting the vaccine in Melbourne.

The TV star ended up turning off the comments on her Instagram post.

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