Darren Hayes says he joined The Masked Singer because he needed a “distraction” from the breakdown of his marriage.
The 51-year-old pop star split from husband Richard Cullen in May after spending 17 years together as a couple and filed for divorce in September.
The Courier Mail also claimed that the “financial pressures” of releasing his new album Homosexual and embarking on a world tour as an independent artist contributed to his decision to take part in the series.
“I think if you look at this album and what I sang about, I made the decision to kind of move on and get back to music,” Hayes told the publication.
The former Savage Garden frontman also spoke about how difficult it was to deal with his divorce from Cullen, especially because he was so private.
51-year-old Darren Hayes of “The Masked Singer” says he did “The Masked Singer” to distract himself from a failed marriage to his longtime husband Richard Cullen. (Hayes is pictured in the show)
“Like everything else, it’s liberating at first because I think part of me has been sleeping for a long time and part of me has been grieving for a long time, but for someone like me it’s hard to make a statement about the end of a marriage.” Who is a private person,” he added.
Hayes came second as the Grim Reaper behind Eurovision star Dami Im, who appeared on the show as the Snow Fox before taking home the win.
The “Insatiable” star concluded by saying he didn’t want to tell his mother about his appearance on the show because he had signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Hayes separated from his husband in May. (The former couple is pictured in happier times)
According to a report from TMZ at the time, the Australian pop star filed for divorce in Los Angeles in September, citing irreconcilable differences.
It came just months after the former couple announced their split in May.
In an emotional Instagram post, Hayes admitted that he has kept his marital problems secret “for the last two years” despite being an “open book” when it comes to his music.
“After 17 years of marriage to the best person I have ever met, Richard and I have decided to accept that our union has miraculously settled down,” he wrote.
In an emotional Instagram post in May, Hayes admitted that he had kept his marital problems secret “for the last two years” despite being an “open book” when it came to his music
“In honor of this realization, we separated earlier this year and have supported each other emotionally throughout this massive change in our lives.”
Hayes further addressed the “ugly questions” about what led to the breakup of his marriage to avoid hurtful speculation.
“No, there is no scandal to report, no infidelity, no guilt or third party.” It’s just life. “We love each other and always will,” he said.
“We consider our marriage to be our greatest collaboration.” No one can ever take away what we have accomplished together. We’re still best friends. We always will be,” he continued.
“We also have a very sweet and needy Labradoodle to take care of and take care of the business of pleasing.”
Hayes ended his post by praising his fans for their loyalty over the years.
Cullen was Hayes’ second spouse after his first marriage to his childhood sweetheart Colby Taylor in 1994. (Hayes and Taylor are pictured in Universal City, California, in 1998.)
The former couple met online in 2004 and had their first date on the steps of Westminster University in London, where Cullen was teaching at the time.
Cullen was Hayes’ second spouse, having married his childhood sweetheart Colby Taylor in his first marriage in 1994.
Taylor, a makeup artist, was married to Hayes when he rose to fame in 1997 as the frontman of Savage Garden.
Savage Garden, consisting of Hayes and guitarist Daniel Jones, formed in 1993 and produced a string of No. 1 hits, including Truly Madly Deeply.
The band broke up in 2001. Hayes continued his solo career while Jones married children’s entertainer and former Hi-5 star Kathleen De Leon.
Savage Garden, consisting of Darren and guitarist Daniel Jones (right), formed in 1993 and produced a string of No.1 hits including To the Moon and Back and The Animal Song