Post by Inside Australian Idol on Oct 21, 2003 1:48:49 GMT 10
Australian Idol judge fat fight
Luke Dennehy
21oct03
AUSTRALIAN Idol judge Ian Dickson yesterday defended his criticism of contestant Paulini Curuenavuli's weight, as controversy erupted over the comments.
On Sunday night Dickson said Curuenavuli should "choose more appropriate clothes, or shed some pounds".
He told the Herald Sun the comments were difficult to make, but were a reflection of the reality of the music business.
"Whether we like it or not, it's a style and image-based business," Dickson said. "I felt she was drifting a little bit too far away from what was needed."
Dickson said Curuenavuli, 21, took the comments well, better than the outraged talkback radio callers.
"It didn't fill me with an awful lot of joy, but I really needed to send a signal to her that she was below her standards," he said.
"I guarantee you, when the honeymoon period is over in six months' time, and if she is on the red carpet as a signed artist, she would be savaged by the celebrity press."
At Curuenavuli's Sydney home yesterday, her mother Miliana and sister Sereima said the singer had shed "a lot" of kilograms during the TV series.
Mrs Curuenavuli said she spoke to her daughter after the show. "Paulini's OK. She looked nice, she did her best to perform -- probably the comment was a bit tough on her, but she's OK -- she took it all right," she said.
"People say she's got an angel's voice which touches their hearts, and that she looks beautiful too -- and we agree."
Singing great John Farnham yesterday took aim at another Pop Idol judge, former entertainer Mark Holden.
"Who is he to judge these kids? He wasn't that great a talent 30 years ago and he's not now," he said.
"Where's Vanessa Amorosi? He was looking after her and she's disappeared.
"Marcia (Hines) is a singer so she has some basis on which to judge and Dicko is representing the record company's interests."
Plus-size model Symantha Perkins said Dickson's comments were outrageous, and could have a long-term effect on girls around the country.
"The judges (Dickson and Holden) are no oil paintings, so before they start throwing comments around about a girl that has a lovely shape, they should take a good hard look at themselves," Perkins said.
"If you're in a position of authority and you're telling a girl to lose a few pounds before she wears a dress, then that may affect some young girls for the rest of their lives."
Perkins praised Curuenavuli for wearing the gold, figure-hugging outfit.
Radio host Tracy Bartram said comments like Dickson's added to huge pressures on youth regarding body image.
"I'm really concerned about those messages being sent out on something as powerful as television," Bartram said.
Curuenavuli survived another round of Pop Idol last night, but Victorian Rob Mills was voted out in a shock result.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7619779%255E2902,00.html
Luke Dennehy
21oct03
AUSTRALIAN Idol judge Ian Dickson yesterday defended his criticism of contestant Paulini Curuenavuli's weight, as controversy erupted over the comments.
On Sunday night Dickson said Curuenavuli should "choose more appropriate clothes, or shed some pounds".
He told the Herald Sun the comments were difficult to make, but were a reflection of the reality of the music business.
"Whether we like it or not, it's a style and image-based business," Dickson said. "I felt she was drifting a little bit too far away from what was needed."
Dickson said Curuenavuli, 21, took the comments well, better than the outraged talkback radio callers.
"It didn't fill me with an awful lot of joy, but I really needed to send a signal to her that she was below her standards," he said.
"I guarantee you, when the honeymoon period is over in six months' time, and if she is on the red carpet as a signed artist, she would be savaged by the celebrity press."
At Curuenavuli's Sydney home yesterday, her mother Miliana and sister Sereima said the singer had shed "a lot" of kilograms during the TV series.
Mrs Curuenavuli said she spoke to her daughter after the show. "Paulini's OK. She looked nice, she did her best to perform -- probably the comment was a bit tough on her, but she's OK -- she took it all right," she said.
"People say she's got an angel's voice which touches their hearts, and that she looks beautiful too -- and we agree."
Singing great John Farnham yesterday took aim at another Pop Idol judge, former entertainer Mark Holden.
"Who is he to judge these kids? He wasn't that great a talent 30 years ago and he's not now," he said.
"Where's Vanessa Amorosi? He was looking after her and she's disappeared.
"Marcia (Hines) is a singer so she has some basis on which to judge and Dicko is representing the record company's interests."
Plus-size model Symantha Perkins said Dickson's comments were outrageous, and could have a long-term effect on girls around the country.
"The judges (Dickson and Holden) are no oil paintings, so before they start throwing comments around about a girl that has a lovely shape, they should take a good hard look at themselves," Perkins said.
"If you're in a position of authority and you're telling a girl to lose a few pounds before she wears a dress, then that may affect some young girls for the rest of their lives."
Perkins praised Curuenavuli for wearing the gold, figure-hugging outfit.
Radio host Tracy Bartram said comments like Dickson's added to huge pressures on youth regarding body image.
"I'm really concerned about those messages being sent out on something as powerful as television," Bartram said.
Curuenavuli survived another round of Pop Idol last night, but Victorian Rob Mills was voted out in a shock result.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7619779%255E2902,00.html
