Australian Idol: Royston Sagigi-Baira reveals what happened during finale performance

Australian Idol winner Royston Sagigi-Baira has revealed what really happened on stage during his gaffe-plagued live performance at Sunday night’s finale.

Royston appeared to forget the words while performing his debut single Invincible after he was seen fumbling over the lyrics and muttering in confusion.

But the 23-year-old told KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O on Monday this wasn’t the case.

He explained there was a problem with the audio that prevented the studio audience from hearing the first few seconds of his performance.

Royston could hear perfectly via his in-ear earphones, and was confused when the audience and other contestants began saying there was a problem with the audio.

‘I could hear fine in my in-ears. That’s why I didn’t hear there was no sound,’ he said. 

His behaviour looked odd to viewers at home because the audio problem did not affect the television broadcast, he explained.

‘For a second, I thought, “Oh, maybe we could do it again.” But then I realised this was live television!’ he admitted.

Radio host Kyle Sandilands, who was a judge on Australian Idol, praised Royston for taking the gaffe in his stride and ‘smashing’ the rest of his performance.

‘That’s what happens when you’re live. Even if it robbed you of your moment, some little technical [thing], that’s going to happen on and off your career,’ he advised.

‘It wouldn’t be the first time there’s been a technical issue and it won’t be the last.’

Speaking to Kyle & Jackie O on Monday, Royston explained there was a problem with the audio that prevented the studio audience from hearing the first few seconds of his performance

Kyle Sandilands (pictured), who was a judge on Australian Idol this year, praised Royston for taking the gaffe in his stride and ‘smashing’ the rest of his performance  

Royston’s performance of his winner’s single got off to a shaky start. 

He appeared visibly confused while mumbling several of the lyrics from the first verse, before he muttered, ‘What?’, and was seen tapping his ear, indicating he couldn’t hear the guide track.

Just moments earlier, runner-up Phoebe Stewart, 15, had tripped down the stairs as she approached the hosts for the final decision.  

Royston rushed to help her up, and the teen took it in her stride, joking that someone should make a meme of the embarrassing moment.

Just moments earlier, runner-up Phoebe Stewart, 15, had tripped down the stairs as she approached the hosts for the final decision