Dave “Hughesy” Hughes has suggested that former judges Jackie O Henderson, Urzila Carlson and Dannii Minogue left The Masked Singer Australia because they felt more “parental guilt” due to outdated “gender” roles.
In the upcoming season of The Masked Singer Australia, Hughesy will be joined by three new female judges – Mel “B” Brown, Abbie Chatfield and Chrissie Swan.
Speaking to TV Week on August 1, Hughesy revealed “the other panellists had their reasons for leaving” before suggesting their choice was due to their role as mothers.
“I love the show and I have a very understanding wife who does the lion’s share of the work at home, so maybe gender plays a role there,” Hughesy told the publication.
He went on to suggest he “maybe” felt ” less parental guilt than the mums on the panel”. Sorry, what?! We could write a book on everything wrong with that statement.
Dave went on to praise Mel B, Abbie and Chrissie for being “really energetic, enthusiastic, super-invested and fantastic”.
Mel B has one adult daughter Phoenix Chi, 23, as well as children Angel Iris, 15 and Madison, 10. Chrissie similarly has three children: Leo, 13, Kit, 10 and Peggy, eight.
Why Jackie O Henderson, Urzila Carlson and Dannii Minogue Left The Masked Singer Australia In 2021
When Jackie O announced that she was stepping away from The Masked Singer Australia, she said she wanted to spend more time with her 12-year-old daughter, Catalina Mae.
“Filming always coincides with school holidays and after three years of missing out I’ve decided to spend my mid-year radio break holidaying with my daughter whilst she’s still happy to hang out with her mum,” Jackie wrote on Instagram in June. So cute!
But Dannii and Urzila both explained they had scheduling conflicts and never mentioned their children as a reason for their departure. You know, probs because you can work in entertainment and be a mother.
Hughesy’s wife Holly Ife similarly has a thriving career as an author and journalist, as well as being a mum. The pair share three children: Rafferty, 12, Sadie, 10 and Tess, eight.
A Masked Singer Australia Insider Dishes Another Reason for the Female Judges’ Mass Exodus
As previously reported in episode 192 of the So Dramatic! podcast, a source close to production revealed the three original female judges left because they weren’t given a pay rise.
“Jackie and Danni asked for a pay rise this year due to the immense success of the show over the last two years. They thought they were worth more and deserved it, given that the show owes its success to them.”
According to the same So Dramatic! spy, production would not “budge” and give them a pay increase.
Even though they were unable to get the pay they wanted, there was “no bad blood”, it was just that the show could no longer meet what they were looking for.
Want even more goss? Listen to episode 206 of the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto below!
Know something that we don’t? Spill the tea here!
Get the tea first! Follow So Dramatic! on Instagram and tune in on Mondays to get your reality tea fix with the So Dramatic! podcast with Megan Pustetto.
