‘Manipulated and taken advantage of’: Adelaide singer Cass Gaiter slams Australian Idol

Adelaide singer Cass Gaiter claims she begged Australian Idol to pull her audition and accuses the show’s producers of crushing dreams to create dramatic TV.

Adelaide local Cass Gaiter has slammed Australian Idol after she claims she begged the show to pull her audition saying she was “manipulated and taken advantage of”.

Ms Gaiter posted to Facebook writing the show was “playing” with people’s “mental health and careers”.

“They (Australian Idol) agreed to not air my audition when I explained just how much I was manipulated and taken advantage of, many other people are currently being lied to and having their dreams crushed for the sake of a TV show,” she wrote.

Adelaide-born Cass Gaiter says she had her dreams crushed after she was "manipulated" by producers of Australian Idol while auditioning for the show. Picture: Facebook

Ms Gaiter says she is worried about people’s mental health and careers who have auditioned for Australian Idol. Picture: Facebook

According to Ms Gaiter she had prepared a list of songs to sing however “was forced to sing a song that was not on (her) list”.

The Adelaide local was also told to accompany herself on guitar which she said she “pleaded with them not to”.

“After having my song choice ripped to shreds, I was basically forced again to sing my own song,” she wrote.

“Something I had never agreed to but in the moment, you as the artist are given no choice.

“You feel so insignificant and little.

“While they praised my song, I was basically told I don’t need the show and got four nos.”

While she was “praised”, she was also told she didn’t “need” the show, she says. Picture: Facebook

She said producers “shoved” cameras in her face after she left the audition room. Picture: Facebook

As Ms Gaiter left the audition room heartbroken, she said producers “shoved” cameras in her face.

Later, Ms Gaiter said producers had “no idea what went wrong” as the Adelaide woman was “supposed to go through” to the next round of the competition.

Ms Gaiter said that made her feel like it was “completely (her) fault”.

“I was the first person in the entire country to audition for this season and I prayed they would find their feet and not treat other people how I was treated,” she wrote.

“But if the first two episodes are anything to go by, unfortunately they didn’t.”

Adelaide-born Cass Gaiter said her “dreams definitely did not come true” after she was “manipulated” by Australian Idol. Picture: Channel 7

Ms Gaiter called her followers to not support “these shows”.

“My dreams definitely did not come true”.

A Seven spokesperson told The Advertiser that “unfortunately, Cass couldn’t audition with her first song choice but agreed to an alternative by one of her favourite artists”.

“All contestants were briefed that judges may ask for a second song on the day of their performance.

“Channel 7 and Eureka Productions prioritise the health and safety of all Australian Idol contestants with ongoing access to a production psychologist.”