Jack Vidgen says winning Australia’s Got Talent as a teenager ‘f**ked him up’ as he reveals the dark side of fame after his rehab stint
Jack Vidgen rose to fame at the age of 14 after winning Australia’s Got Talent in 2011.
And the singer has now revealed that being thrust into the celebrity spotlight at such a young age had a detrimental effect.
The I’m a Celebrity star, 24, told the TV Reload podcast this week his best advice to wannabe performers would be to avoid television talent shows.
Despite going on Australia’s Got Talent at 14, Jack Vidgen has revealed ‘Going on a show really young can f*** you up’
‘I think going on a show really young can f**k you up,’ he said, adding: ‘But it also can make your grow up really quickly.’
When host Benjamin Norris asked how he coped with finding fame so young, Jack said it was such a struggle he chose to walk away from it all.
He said: ‘To be honest, I didn’t cope for a while. I stopped singing. I didn’t do any work-related singing for a few years. I backpacked in Europe. I worked in my uncle’s deli.
‘I was overwhelmed because I didn’t know how to navigate in that world and the best thing I could have done was step back and live life any from public eye.’
Stepping away from the spotlight: ‘I was overwhelmed because I didn’t know how to navigate in that world and the best thing I could have done was step back and live life any from public eye,’ said Jack
Back in the day: Jack rose to fame as a fresh-faced teenager on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011
Despite admitting that he slipped into ‘unhealthy’ habits during his dark days after winning AGT, he said he remains ‘grateful’ for his experience.
In August, Jack was admitted to a Sydney rehab facility for substance abuse.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the former Voice contestant was treated for six weeks at the South Pacific Private clinic in Curl Curl.
Rehab: The Voice star Jack Vidgen (pictured) was admitted to a Sydney rehabilitation facility for substance abuse in August, claims The Daily Telegraph
‘Jack has lived in the public eye for literally a decade now and it hasn’t always been easy,’ a source told the publication.
‘He has faced numerous setbacks but has shown a determination still to not just come through as an artist but to use his life experience as inspiration for his music.’
While on I’m a Celebrity, Jack admitted his relationship with his mother became strained after winning AGT and becoming his family’s breadwinner overnight.
Regrets: During his time on the Channel 10 show, Jack broke down in tears while speaking about his complex relationship with his mother
Jack said he ‘resented’ the responsibility that fell on his shoulders, but now regrets how he treated his mum, Rachel Hayton, as a teenager.
‘I miss my mum,’ he said, fighting back tears. ‘She’s always worked three or four jobs just to keep a roof over our head.
‘Our relationship has been hard over the years. When I won [AGT], our dynamic completely switched and I was the breadwinner.’
Jack went on to say that he ‘almost felt like I was parenting myself’.
‘I have so much resentment now that I can’t control. I think in here I’m just reflecting on how I wish I’d treated her better,’ he added.
Since his exit from I’m a Celebrity, Jack and his mother have reconciled and the star claims his time in the jungle helped ‘heal’ their rift.
I’m a Celebrity continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
Healing moment: I’m a Celebrity’s Jack Vidgen (right) has admitted he had a tearful reunion with his mother, Rachel Hayton (left), after leaving the jungle
All grown up! Looking back on his experience on the show, Jack told TV Reload: ‘Unless you’re doing a trial or a challenge, time in the jungle is for reflection. I’ve always been an advocate for therapy, I’ve been going to therapy for years now.’