Anthony Callea claims Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson tried to out him as gay on Australian Idol

Anthony Callea has cast his mind back to his Australian Idol days, revealing an awkward live TV encounter with and the music mogul.

Anthony Callea recalls his experience as a contestant on Australian Idol in his new tell-all memoir – and claims judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson allegedly tried to out him as gay on television.

The singer, who appeared in season two of the talent show in 2004, had not publicly revealed his sexuality at the time, despite Dickson’s apparent attempts. The music mogul has since addressed Callea’s claims in a new interview on The Kyle & Jackie O Show this morning.

In his memoir released earlier this month, titled Behind The Voice, Callea wrote that Dickson “seemed more concerned about my sexuality than I was,” claiming the music mogul relentlessly tried different tactics in hopes cameras would capture Callea’s announcement.

Australian Idol grand finalists Anthony Callea and Casey Donovan with judge Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson in 2004.

“One night, right after I’d finished my performance, the judges were giving their comments, and Dicko said something along the lines of that he saw my target audience as being ‘grannies, girls and gays’, which I guess was his way of throwing the ‘G’ word out there (alongside some others),” writes Callea, who was 21 at the time.

The Idol contestant placed runner-up to Casey Donovan in the competition but went on to release his debut single, a cover of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s The Prayer, which won an ARIA Award for Highest Selling Single the following year.

Callea said he does not hold any grudges against Dickson, as he believes the record executive did not have any bad intentions.

“I get that times and social temperatures change, and in hindsight, it was not out of the ordinary behaviour from him,” Callea wrote.

Anthony Callea released his memoir Behind The Voice on April 5.

Anthony Callea performing on Australian Idol in 2004.

Dickson has also spoken out about that Australian Idol season, telling the TV Reload podcast in 2021 that he wanted to actually help Callea hide his sexuality, even though the Idol hopeful had not yet revealed his sexual orientation.

“We all knew Anthony was gay and I remember saying to him, ‘Look mate, we’re going to be your record company and we can help you live the life you want and shag who you want and keep a public persona for your career if that’s what you choose,’’ Dickson said, adding that in hindsight he should have let Callea come out on his own terms.

The singer eventually confirmed his sexuality in 2007, three years after appearing on the show. In 2014, after seven years of dating, he married he married Home And Away actor Tim Campbell.

Originally published as Anthony Callea claims Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson tried to out him as gay on Australian Idol