Australian Idol favourites Imogen Spendlove, 23, and Ripley Alexander, 19, have revealed they both have autism after the pair’s shock elimination from the hit Channel Seven show.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Ripleysaid he did not reveal his diagnosis on the show because he didn’t want to be treated differently to other contestants.
‘I’ve got autism so it’s a little bit hard for me to constantly be on, it’s a difficulty, but it’s difficult for everyone on the show … I don’t really like being treated differently, I don’t like it being treated as an excuse,’ he said.
‘It was tough to find the balance of being myself on TV because I’m typically a closed person and it’s not a very easy thing to really open yourself up on national television.’
Fan favourite Imogen added that she too is also autistic and admitted to the publication she was feeling burnt out from the competition.
Australian Idol favourites Imogen Spendlove, 23, and Ripley Alexander, 19 (pictured) have revealed they both have autism after the pair’s shock elimination from the hit Channel Seven show
‘I was getting overwhelmed coming to work every day, and the noise in the rooms and not really having downtime was a bit stressful,’ she said.
The pair revealed they would use headphones and earplugs to assist with the sensory overload while participating on the program.
A bombshell vote saw Ripley and Imogen leave after the nation voted for their Top 10 contestants live.
![Fan favourite Imogen admitted she was feeling burnt out from the competition](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/01/00/81898715-13143403-image-m-20_1709252831269.jpg)
Fan favourite Imogen admitted she was feeling burnt out from the competition
Across Australia, 1.3 million votes were cast, but only a handful separated Ripley from Brisbane, Imogen from Victoria, Ivana, 20, from Victoria and Karratha’s TJ Zimba, 24.
As the bottom four were announced, judges Kyle Sandilands, 52, Marcia Hines, 70, and Amy Shark, 37, were stunned at the shock result.
The bottom four artists took to the stage to prove they deserve a spot in the Top 10.
![The pair revealed they would use headphones and earplugs to assist with the sensory overload while participating on the program](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/01/00/81898713-13143403-image-a-21_1709252851445.jpg)
The pair revealed they would use headphones and earplugs to assist with the sensory overload while participating on the program
Kyle said of the elimination: ‘Unbelievable. A real shame.’
Amy uttered: ‘I honestly have no words… my mind is blown right now.’
Marcia reflected that Ripley was so popular Australia may have forgotten to vote.
Both eliminated contestants received a standing ovation.
![A bombshell vote saw Ripley and Imogen depart after the nation voted for their Top 10 contestants live](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/01/00/81898721-13143403-image-a-22_1709252938329.jpg)
A bombshell vote saw Ripley and Imogen depart after the nation voted for their Top 10 contestants live
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