Is Kyle too cruel even for Australian Idol?
Kyle Sandilands, known across Australia for his controversial no-filter commentary, has once again caused a stir with his take on one Australian Idol contestant’s audition.
Kyle, the only original cast member to return for the show’s reboot, was joined by Meghan Trainor, Harry Connick Jr, and fellow Australian Amy Shark.
Ali Morriss, a 27-year-old aged care worker from Brisbane, kicked off her audition with an unusual technique - handing out copies of her young adult novel Outside to the judges. The book is published under the pen name RA Bissmire.
Kyle’s inappropriate remark came after Ali informed the judges which song she’d be performing for her audition, Untouched by The Veronicas.
“Is it because you are untouched?” Sandilands asked.
Ali replied, “I don’t know if I can answer that.”
Kyle’s comment, which had nothing to do with Ali’s singing ability and everything to do with his “shock jock” approach to commentary, drew varied reactions from his fellow judges.
“Oh my god,” Meghan Trainor exclaimed, waving a hand in Kyle’s direction from her position next to him on the panel, “oh my god. It’s a family show.”
Amy Shark managed an uncomfortable laugh, leaning away.
Meanwhile, Harry Connick Jr did not dignify Kyle’s jab with a response, keeping his gaze down and locked on Ali’s gifted book.
Ali’s situation wasn’t set to improve, with her rendition of Untouched falling short of what the judges were searching for.
“This is a hardcore singing show,” Harry Connick Jr told her in a bid to soften the rejection, “and as lovely as you are, you’re just not ready for that.”
Amy Shark agreed with Harry’s take, telling Ali that she’d selected a difficult song in the first place, even adding, “I feel like it’s a song only the Veronicas can crush.”
It was then that Kyle chose to follow up on his initial approach to Ali’s audition, holding her book up as he told her, “I think you should go outside.”
Kyle’s attitude has left a bad taste in the mouths of many viewers, especially given the show’s approach to “respecting” their talents this season.
In a pinned tweet from January 30, producers invited the audience to join them for a “respectful season”. It appears Sandilands missed the invitation.
Here's your golden ticket to a respectful season of #AustralianIdol 💙 pic.twitter.com/t1R2gZk0XO
— Australian Idol (@AustralianIdol) January 30, 2023
People were quick to share their take on that, given Kyle’s presence on the panel, and the fact that Australian Idol was choosing to broadcast the less-than-ideal auditions in the first place.
“Lol lol lol lol lol,” began former journalist and reporter Mark Kearney, “says the show that’s platforming serial misogynist Kyle Sandilands?”
“So why put them up for public ridicule?” asked one fan.
“Except the judges are reacting and comment some terrible stuff,” wrote another, “and being straight up rude- it’s not even funny.”
One commenter took the opportunity to point out the show’s hypocrisy, posing the question to the Australian Idol account, “aren’t you using people as a platform knowing they are terrible?”
It appears that Australian Idol is shaping up to be a bumpy ride, with some noting that it hasn't changed in the 14 years since its previous seasons, surmising that it’s “back to its old ways of humiliating young people.”
Images: Getty