X Factor winner Isaiah Firebrace, Stephanie Mendez charged after scuffle at Star Casino

Isaiah Firebrace and Stephanie Mendez were involved in an incident at Star Casino, and have both been charged with assault.

Isaiah Firebrace performing on The X Factor in 2016.

X Factor Australia winner Isaiah Firebrace has been charged by police with assaulting his partner.

Firebrace, who represented Australia in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest, is set to face a magistrate next week following an incident at a licensed premises in Pyrmont, Sydney, late Thursday evening. It’s understood he had been attending a corporate event.

The 23-year-old – an anti-domestic violence advocate – is also the subject of a provisional apprehended domestic violence order against his girlfriend, Stephanie Rosita Mendez.

Police have also applied for a provisional apprehended domestic violence against Ms Mendez – protecting Firebrace – and charged her with common assault as well.

Isaiah Firebrace celebrates making it into the finals of the Eurovision 2017 contest. Picture: AP

In a statement, a spokesman for NSW Police told The Australian the former child star was arrested at a nearby hotel and taken to Day Street Police Station following the alleged incident.

“About 11.10pm on Thursday (August 17, 2023), police responded to reports of an assault between a man and a woman at a licensed premises on Pyrmont St, Pyrmont,” the spokesman said.

“Officers arrested a 21-year-old woman at the scene. A short time later a 23-year-old man was arrested at a hotel on Murray St.

“There were no reports of any serious injuries,” police said.

Firebrace and Ms Mendez issued a joint statement on Saturday morning.

“On Thursday evening after too many cocktails there was a minor incident and scuffle that took place at the Star Casino.

“The police attended and we have both been charged with common assault. We deeply regret the incident and anticipate that the matter will be resolved quietly next week.

“We are very much in love and do not condone our behaviour in any way, shape or form. With the support of our loving families we are working through this and respectfully ask for privacy.”

Firebrace last year in the Victorian town of Echuca after a flood event. Picture: Rebecca Pilgrim

Adam Lambert in 2016 with X Factor contestants Isaiah Firebrace, Amalia and Natalie Ong.

Firebrace shot to fame in 2016 when he won Channel 7’s The X Factor as a 17-year old living in a small town in southern NSW.

In 2022 Firebrace said in an interview that he met Ms Mendez in Melbourne.

“The thing I love most is that she makes me laugh,” he said. ”I want to be with someone who makes life fun.”

The pair will face court on Wednesday, August 23.

Firebrace published a children’s picture book towards the end of 2022, called Come Together, advocating for Aboriginal history to be taught in Australian classrooms.