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Tarisai blasts judges

By Garth Montgomery

October 29, 2007 11:11am

Article from:

AUSTRALIAN Idol wannabe diva Tarisai Vushe has blasted judges Ian Dickson and Mark Holden in a backstage spray that accused them of sabotaging her chance to win the contest.

Screaming at the pair after last night's show and slamming a door in Dicko's face, Tarisai said their critique that she was acting "fake" during performances would cost her the prized recording contract offered to the winner.

In what was supposed to be a night that Tarisai channeled emotional rage in to a performance, she ultimately sealed her fate as a performer that fails to deliver real emotion.

The 20 year old was left sullen and defeated on stage after a blistering critique that her stage presence was a false representation of herself, designed to manipulate the public ahead of tonight's crucial vote.

The singing contestant who'd honed her performing skills and voice in large scale church productions disagreed with the industry veterans who branded her on stage antics as "fake" last night.

The "fake" sledge had been mounting for weeks by viewers and bloggers incensed by her non-communicative demeanour during judging each week.

Prior to last night's performance, she was shown preparing with Judge Mark Holden to meet public criticism she was being :fake" with her on stage humility.

"Tarisai is furious that she's being accused of being fake", Holden said during the week's preparations, which included choosing a song that allowed her to answer critics with an emotionally charged performance of The Veronicas When It All Falls Apart.

She failed to impress the judges, with Holden bluntly telling her she was not believable.

"I think it was fake," he said. "It was not enough real rage. Brilliantly crafted, brilliantly sung, but still too much fakeness".

Tarisai maintained the reserved nature that has raised the ire of fans, and countered that she "strongly disagrees".

"To be honest with you, I am not fake and that was not fake," she said.

Dicko was no less pointed in calling Tarisai on being too restrained as a performer.

"I hate to put the boot in, but I thought it was fake too. You were like an angry rap star to me … I don't believe it.

"You only hear what you want to hear, you never listen to us. We can be slagging you off and you go 'Thankyou' like it's some beauty pageant," said Dicko.

Judge Marcia Hines, who functions as the judging panel's voice of encouragement was speechless after Tarisai's performance.

"You know, there's really nothing I can say. That's it."

In a strange twist it was Judge Kyle Sandilands as the lone voice of support for Tarisai.

The abrasive shock jock said it was "hot" when she threw down the mic stand during the performance, but told her to show more of herself to avoid being labelled a "fake" by the public.

"It's how you conduct yourself on the television whilst being interviewed," he said. "You don't need to be so worried about trying to make everybody happy, just be the nutter we know and love backstage because all performers are crazy," he said.

Marcia last week showed annoyance with Tarisai for her persistently quiet "thank you" after each judging, despite having a backstage reputation for being confident and boisterous.

Asked to explain her performance, Tarisai nodded "thank you" and remained difficult to communicate with.

The auto pilot "thank you" earned her the wrath of Hines who abruptly cut her off.

"No, not thank you, talk to me, how were you feeling just then."

But Tarisai again opted for a minimal response, saying only she was "nervous".

It's a routine that almost no one is buying from the wannabe performer.

Last week, school music teacher Daniel Mifsud said he'd been forced on occasion to have stern words with Tarisai backstage when her diva attitude got out of hand.

Contestent Ben McKenzie also alluded to a finalist as being "fake" with the public persona presented, which was at odds with the backstage person, however he refused to name names.

Tonight's elimination is anyone's guess with Lasseter's favouring Marty, while Sporting Bet and Betastic favour Tarisai.

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22664924-10388,00.html