'I tried to beg her': Why Jackie O turned down the chance to host Meghan Markle Sydney event

Jackie 'O' Henderson has been firmly in the spotlight in recent weeks, but she won't be taking part in the Her Best Life Retreat with Meghan Markle next month. 

Henderson's manager and 'bestie' Gemma O'Neill – who she used to co-host the Her Best Life podcast with – confirmed that the radio presenter won't be there. 

The luxury event will take place in Coogee in April, and O'Neill admitted she almost said no to the whole thing, until she spoke to Henderson about it. 

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"I feel really excited because I did go through a period, I will admit, that I actually almost said no, and I actually spoke to Jackie about it," she said during the latest episode of her podcast. 

O'Neill admitted that she begged Henderson to host the event, but she declined. 

"I tried to beg her to come and do it, or I tried to beg her to come and take over the event," she continued.

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"She was adamant, and she said: 'No, Gemma. You need to do this for yourself. This is meant to be for you.'" 

O'Neill explained that Henderson wanted to give her a chance to break out of her "private" shell with this huge opportunity.

"She said: 'I know you don't want to do it, and I know you're nervous because you're very private and you hate doing things'," she recalled. 

"You like having career things happening behind the scenes, but you hate being front and centre.

"So, you know, I'm going from trying to be private to now it could not be any more front and centre."

Nine.com.au has reached out to O'Neill to see if Henderson will be attending the event. 

The decision to not take part in the event, which has already made headlines across the world since it was announced on Wednesday, is one Henderson clearly isn't bothered by. 

The radio presenter left a public show of support for her close friend and former podcast co-host in the comments of the post announcing Meghan's involvement in the retreat. 

"Incredible Gem... definitely living your best life," she wrote, adding clapping hand emojis and love hearts.

Henderson has been making headlines since her walkout from the KIIS FM Kyle and Jackie O show last month, after a heated clash with co-host Kyle Sandilands.

After an absence on air, ARN issued a statement that Henderson's contract had been terminated after she gave notice that she "cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands."

Henderson broke her silence on the situation last week, issuing a statement through her manager O'Neill claiming that she "did not quit."

"Over the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show," Henderson said in the statement to nine.com.au.

"I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign.

"I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else.

"It has been truly heartbreaking to see how this has unfolded. At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels," she said.

"Thank you to everyone who has sent kind messages of support during what has been an incredibly challenging time."

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