THE DARK SIDE OF Australian Idol
What happened to the stars of the hit show once the stage lights went out?
Casey Donovan
Shortly after she won the 2004 season, teenager Casey secretly began a long-distance, over-the-phone relationship with a man named Campbell.
However, six years later she found out she had been catfished by her friend Olga, who, as Campbell, even coerced Casey into having sex with her. “How could it go on for so long. How could I be so stupid?” says the singer.
The 32-year-old has learned to forgive her betrayer, saying she’s ready to “let it go to move forwards”.
Kate Dearaugo
In one of the most public falls from grace, the 2005 winner shocked fans when she was caught driving under the influence of the drug ice in 2017. A search of her car also found a tomahawk and knife.
The singer, now 35, admitted to police that she had been an on-and-off drug addict for 10 years. Kate’s lawyer revealed she had started using drugs as “a fun sort of thing” in the industry.
Anthony Callea
Talking on The Idol Archives podcast, the 2004 runner-up revealed he had received a chilling note at the place where he was staying on the eve of the finale.
“It was hand-delivered to the house. It was essentially, ‘If Anthony won the grand final he would be killed,’” the 37-year-old revealed. “They brought in the police to the house and they flew my parents up from Melbourne with a security guard.”
Anthony was flanked by security everywhere he went, and at the final at the Sydney Opera House, he and fellow finalist Casey were unable to greet fans on the red carpet.
Axle Whitehead
Even though he didn’t make it past the second week of semi-finals, 2003’s season one contestant Axle showed promise of being a star. He quickly landed a job as the host of Ten’s Video Hits, but was axed from the gig after he exposed himself on stage while presenting at the ARIA Awards in 2006. But the hiccup didn’t ruin his career – Axle, now 39, released an album and went on to star on Home And Away as rocker Liam Murphy from 2009 to 2013.
Paulini Curuenavuli
In the same year Kate was caught driving under the influence, her former Young Divas band member Paulini was slapped with a six-month suspended sentence for bribing a government official to unlawfully obtain a driver’s licence. In 2016, The Bodyguard star paid a Roads and Maritime Services employee $850 for a NSW licence, despite not being qualified to drive. The singer, now 38, stated she had experienced “significant ramifications” because of the scandal.
Natalie Gauci
After winning the show in 2007, Natalie struggled to grapple with the nationwide fame the reality TV contest brought her. The singer, now 38, later revealed she turned to drugs and alcohol in order to deal with her sudden rise to success. “I took a lot of drugs and became paranoid,” she said in 2017. “After that whirlwind I felt really detached… I wasn’t being heard. I felt so alone.” Natalie recently tried her luck again on The Voice, where she slammed mentor Guy Sebastian for his “disappointing coaching”.
Damien Leith
Despite selling more than $5 million worth of albums after winning the show in 2006, Damien still had to sell his car in order to pay his rent! Thanks to his ironclad contract, the Irishman did not receive any of the proceeds from selling more than 300,000 copies of his record The Winner’s Journey. He also handed over his rights to his performances on the show.
“Basically I didn’t get paid,” says the 44-year-old. “It was tough. It wasn’t what it was painted out to be.”