Shocked by Damien's Audition!!

[12ktina]

You probably have already discussed this issue previously, but,

Having just bought a copy of the Idol Top 12 DVD (couldn't wait for Damien's solo release next week, altho will get that as well), I was really shocked by how nasty Mark was to Damien. He was so rude about his looks!! I couldn't believe it! My 7 year old daughter also commented about how nasty he was being! What was the point of those comments?


Damien did so well to overcome that initial obstacle, which would have hurt no matter how secure his self esteem was.

However, there must have been something wrong with Mark's eyesight - as other than his dodgy tooth (which my 11 year old son also has!) he actually looked really normal and fine! Not so ugly that you couldn't look at him!! What a horrible comment!

Mark, Damien's numerous numerous numerous female fans do not agree with you one iota

And Kyle didn't even vote to put him through!!! Shame!!!

At least Marcia recognises talent when she sees it!!!

Damien, I think you are beautiful, inside and out!!!

[crushangel]

I also bought the final 12 dvd as I wanted to see Damien's audition. Both Mark and Kyle were horrible to Damien. In my opinion Kyle was about 100 times more horrible he told him he loved his voice but hated everything else and voted no on putting him through. At least Mark voted to put him through...but yes Marcia is the only one who treated him how he deserved and recognised his talent.
Not going to bash Mark. I'm actually grateful to Mark for putting Damien through, if Mark had of said no we never would of got to see Damien, he wouldn't of even made the top 100. I am thankful to Mark and I hate Kyle. I agree that Mark is horrible but I'm just grateful he put Damo through cos at that moment he had the power.
I just think it's amazing now to watch that audition and now think that he is the winner I mean WOWZERS he really showed them didn't he. Sucked in to Kyle who didn't even want Damien in the top 100 lmao.
Ange xo

[irishrokit]

I remember Damien's audition and really hoped straight off that they'd let him in. Then when Mark said he was ugly I couldn't believe it but at least he let him in. I thought it was so rude and even though Damo said I'm confident with the way I am (or something like that) you could tell he was really hurt. Mark has no credibility with anyone anymore so I wouldn't worry about him. He's the one that has to live his sad little life. At least Damo handle it well and didn't get angry cause if it was me I would have told mark where to stick his comments But then again I suppose you have to put up with that to get into the top 12 then after that you can tell mark where to go. I just hope he gets to work with good people now.

[12ktina]

OK - Maybe I was a little harsh on Mark - I'll withdraw one or two of those bashes!
You are right Angel, just think how things could have been different if Mark didn't agree to give him a chance - we may never have heard of Damien Leith!!
As his current song says, maybe it''s fate!!

[shimmery]

Only today I read that we never saw a lot of that audition and that it's on the DVD in full including Damien's shocked reaction to those comments. I haven't seen it yet but I will be buying it. At the time my whole family was sickened by those comments - we'd been sitting there listening to that heavenly voice and seeing Damien with all that hope only to be shot down like that. Absolutely sickening. I'm grateful that the Australian public is obviously more open to accepting a beautiful spirit & voice like Damien's.

[purplegraciegirl]

I agree that Mark was horrible to Damien - and unnecessarily so. Just wanting to make a comment for tv, I suspect. I read somewhere that Damien was actually very hurt by the comment and it affected him for some time. Blast!

Kudos to Damien for winning Mark well and truly over - Kyle also. Marcia? Well, Marcia is a pushover unless you're a gutsy woman who threatens her. But don't get me started on that...

[Andy, the soccer Mum]

I will definitely be getting final 12 DVD just to see entire audition. Agree Mark and Kyle are jerks, but don't you just love it that he went on to show them up? Is it just me or is he definitely much better looking now than in the audition? Does anyone know what the judges reactions/comments to him winning were? I would love to know...

[Mi chiamano Kami]

I was also a little shocked to see the full audition on the DVD. Some of the things said were totally inappropriate. The teeth thing offended me particularly as I have misaligned teeth that look quite bad from a distance, and I totally saw where Damien was coming from with not doing anything about it - it's expensive to get veneers done and if you don't have a massive record deal, who cares?

Kyle was just an idiot. Saying no just because of Damien's appearance? And yet they let that Jorge Bec guy through, who really did look hideous and had a lousy attitude to boot. What a waste of time.

And we saw the advent of the Mark Holden backhanded compliment. "I think it's fantastic that you're butt-ugly!"
Which he was not.

I don't give Mark much credit any more because the things he said were not things you say to someone's face. It was obvious that he was impressed by Damien's answers and liked him, so we really have Damien's Irish charm to thank. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he had to bite his tongue to stop from saying some less complimentary things!

The thing I do love about the audition is Mark saying, "Screw the criteria!" Really, ever since he started with the show Damien has been changing things to suit him, and prospering because of it. It's great to see that in that respect, he started early.

[Crazy]

me too

In fairness Mark did Damien a favour. I was so incensed by what he had said that I think I would have supported Damien from that time on no matter what.....fortunately he is a genuine talent. If someone had said that to me, I would have crumbled, gone home and cried myself to sleep and then sunk into a deep depression and probably never given a toothy smile again (but thats just me). It bothers me because if Mark had any basis to say it (which in this case he didn't) - even if you seriously think they are ugly - it's just wrong, there are better ways to tell someone you don't like the way they look (actually no there isn't - it's just wrong).

Kyle pisses me off though. It's all about looks to him. I can't believe he gave Damien a no. I think that shows his credibility as a judge - we'd have lost a serious contender for the Idol crown...someone who is (imo) the best, most talented and most marketable Idol yet. Why can't we have a bash Kyle smiley? I hated Kyle's crude comments when Damien wore leathers (phew). Kyle obviously has some issues of his own..down there - because Damien definitely suits leather pants *wipes sweat from brow*

is it just me .... but Kyle reminds me of a little piggy (not in a cute way like Babe) it's something about his squat nose and little piggy eyes and round pink face. Mind you his hair does remind me of Babe. wonder if he sits on a little curly tail

My tips for Channel 10 for next years Idol - keep Mark on, but send him away to a retreat for the next few months to help him cope with his current obvious lack of a grip on life..... but ditch Kyle - he's the most worthless judge you have ... he's offensive - but not in a way that makes me want to watch - and he can't even see talent when it stares him in the face. Marcia is harmless - maybe a waste of space - but it's nice to have a pretty smiling face in the middle of all that madness.

[Bahamagirl]

Actually, it was Damien's reaction to Mark and Kyle's horrible remarks that really won me over. I loved the voice, but what truely impressed me was the dignified way he responded to remarks that must have cut him very deeply. I also don't have perfect teeth but you learn to live with it if you don't want to spend a fortune. I wanted him to win from that moment. I'm sorry to say that the advent of video has probably ruined music especially for new talent, IMHO. I'm afraid that Mark and Kyle are just reflecting musical reality. Look how excited they were over Dean's looks and couldn't care less about the average voice-sorry any Dean fans. And anyway, he's not butt-ugly!!! He's so cute, in a geeky sort of way and looking better all the time.

[Bahamagirl]

Crazy, I like the way you think! He does have little piggy eyes but I think that the pig is smarter. And you're right, their remarks did do Damien a favour because I think it got a lot of us voting who've never voted befere. The leather pants remark after Creep was way out-of-line, and I bet Kyle does have issues down there. Besides, why was he looking at Damien's crotch?
Let's not even start on disco night. The worst thing on TV would be you, Kyle.

[Crazy]

bahamagirl said:

Let's not even start on disco night. The worst thing on TV would be you, Kyle.

I second that bahamagirl

[Trilly]

bahamagirl said:

Actually, it was Damien's reaction to Mark and Kyle's horrible remarks that really won me over. I loved the voice, but what truely impressed me was the dignified way he responded to remarks that must have cut him very deeply. I also don't have perfect teeth but you learn to live with it if you don't want to spend a fortune. I wanted him to win from that moment. I'm sorry to say that the advent of video has probably ruined music especially for new talent, IMHO. I'm afraid that Mark and Kyle are just reflecting musical reality. Look how excited they were over Dean's looks and couldn't care less about the average voice-sorry any Dean fans. And anyway, he's not butt-ugly!!! He's so cute, in a geeky sort of way and looking better all the time.

My thoughts exactly,bahamagirl..D was obviously hurt by the nutters, but handled it so well Iwas hugely impressed, after being smitten by that VOICE!!...and he's HAWT as hell...*sigh*

[lynne]

Yes, my heart went out to Damien after Mark and Kyle's horrible insults at the audition and afterwards as well. I was shocked by their comments, as all I saw in Damien was a handsome, charming man with a divine voice and thought he was a dead cert to go through.

Thank goodness Damien's quiet confidence and charm shone through and won over thousands of Australians. What a man!

I wonder how Dicko would have reacted to Damien at the auditions? Someone posted in the AI forums that Dicko might be back next year for AI as a 4th judge (article in Sydney Morning Herald apparently). That could be interesting as I can totally see Kyle and Dicko clashing.

[flynn]

I reckon even if Dicko had been there and said something about Damiens looks he would have at least been FUNNY rather than just rude. I was also shocked at marks comment at the time but also at the judge's over-the-top comments the night he performed celebration. Unbelievably rude and totally off the mark. At that stage I was sure they wanted Dean to win.