Sophie Monk finally reveals truth about defining career moment

After 20 years of rumours, Sophie Monk has finally revealed the truth about one of the most talked about moments of her career.

For the first time ever, Sophie Monk has gone into detail about why Bardot really split up back in 2002.

Monk often declines to comment when asked about the girl group’s demise, but she reluctantly agreed to set the record straight in an interview with news.com.au after her former bandmate, Belinda Chapple, made a series of claims in a recent tell-all book.

In The Girl in the Band, Chapple suggests that Bardot split up after their second album because the band’s manager, David Caplice, had plans for Monk to launch a solo career.

Chapple claims their manager had already sourced demo solo songs for Monk, who had also posed for solo photo shoots before the band was summoned to a group meeting.

Sophie, Tiffany, Katie, Sally and Belinda.

It was in that meeting that Caplice allegedly said to the band members: “We (Sophie Monk and David Caplice) have decided it’s time for Bardot to call it a day. Sophie no longer wants to continue with the band.”

Chapple writes that she was “utterly shellshocked” by the announcement, and added that she hasn’t spoken to Monk since their split.

Monk, who was speaking to news.com.au to promote her new role as an ambassador for [yellow tail], became emotional as she shared her version of events. She revealed that she had initially voiced her desire to leave the group a year earlier.

“What happened was, there were five of us and Katie (Underwood) said, ‘I would like to leave the band,’” she said (you can watch the interview in the video player above).

That was in 2001, with Underwood leaving the group after their first album to pursue a role in a production of the musical Hair which never made it to stage.

“As she (Underwood) said that, I went, ‘I’d like to leave too,’” Monk revealed. “And they (management) said, ‘no, you can’t leave because otherwise we’ve only got three (members) and we need you to stay for one more year.’

“I said, ‘I’ll stay for one more year and do one more album.’”

A Bardot autograph signing session in Brisbane’s Queen street mall.

Speaking about her decision to leave, Monk said: “For me, I just felt like we had achieved enough, and yeah, I wanted out when Katie did.”

Monk also rejected the suggestion that she had already agreed to a solo career before Bardot split up.

“I finished (Bardot) and was looking for a job,” she told news.com.au. “I did not know they were going to ask me for a solo album at all.

“I didn’t get the phone call that they wanted a solo album until … definitely after (Bardot broke up),” she said.

Monk was on the verge of tears as she shared details of the band’s split, and made it clear she does not harbour any ill feelings towards Chapple or the other Bardot members.

“I’m sure all of us have different perspectives and experiences and saw different things,” she told news.com.au.

“I do have respect for all the girls and I hope they do really good. Genuinely, I really mean that.”

Sophie Monk has been named an ambassador for [yellow tail]. Picture: Luke Debbelde

Monk’s version of events is backed up by comments made by ex-Bardot member, Sally Polihronas, who told FHM: “I think when Sophie went solo, everyone assumed that it was she who broke up the band, which wasn’t right.

“I don’t know whether I should say this, but I wanted out for a long time. Sophie and I both knew that we were going to fulfil the last album and then move on,” she said.

Sophie’s new deal with [yellow tail]

As mentioned earlier, Monk has just signed on as the first ever Australian ambassador for [yellow tail], with a major advertising campaign called ‘Easy to Love’ set to launch on October 8.

Speaking to news.com.au about the deal, Monk said: “The weirdest thing is, I approached them to be the ambassador! I asked them because I’ve been drinking [yellow tail] forever … and it’s my vibe.”

The Aussie star said her favourite tipple is [yellow tail]’s bubbles, but added she also likes to have one of their “iconic reds” when eating steak.