X Factor contestant, 38, lay dead in bed for days after cutting her neck, inquest hears
X Factor contestant, 38, whose audition was slammed by Simon Cowell as a ‘complete and utter nightmare’ killed herself after battling schizophrenia and lay in bed undiscovered for days, inquest hears
- Ariel Burdett, 38, found dead at her home in Leeds, on November 12 last year
- The singer died following an incision to her neck and drug toxicity, inquest heard
- Was credited with memorable audition when she appeared on X Factor in 2008
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details
A former X-Factor contestant lay dead in her bed for days after cutting her neck before she was found, an inquest heard today.
Ariel Burdett, 38, who was credited with having one of the show’s most memorable auditions when she appeared in front of judges in 2008, was found dead at her home in Leeds, West Yorkshire, on November 12, last year.
The aspiring singer, whose real name was Amy, died due to an incision to her neck and drug toxicity, Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard.
In 2019, a pre-inquest hearing was told employees of Ms Burdett’s landlord went to her house in Leeds on November 4 after concerns were raised about her welfare.
Ariel Burdett, 38, died due to an incision to her neck and drug toxicity, Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard
The former X-Factor contestant was credited with having one of the show’s most memorable auditions when she appeared in front of judges in 2008
Ms Burdett did not answer or respond to attempts to contact her and the employees returned to the house eight days later with a locksmith.
Once inside the property they found Ms Burdett dead and pathologist Dr Lisa Barker issued a preliminary cause of death as an incised wound to the neck.
Ms Burdett did not answer or respond to attempts to contact her before she was found dead at her property
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said at the time: ‘On November 12, police were called to an address in the Woodhouse area of Leeds where a woman had been found dead.
‘There were no suspicious circumstances and the Coroner’s Office was informed.’
The court previously heard that Ms Burdett had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Dr Jamie Pick, a consultant psychiatrist, told the court that the former contestant ‘had a strength of character’ and was ‘fiercely independent’, The Sun reported.
He said: ‘Ara was one of those people who was very memorable.
‘She had a strength of character and there was a liveliness about her that people related to and they had a real fondness for her.
‘She was passionate. Fiercely independent, she wanted to be in control.’
Ms Burdett is well remembered by fans of The X Factor for her audition in 2008 when she left judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl speechless with her original song.
The singer is remembered by fans of The X Factor for her audition in 2008 when she left the judges speechless
Ms Burdett, who described herself as a ‘holistic vocal coach’, left the judges open-mouthed with her original performance. Pictured: Simon Cowell during her audition
During her audition, Ms Burdett famously ripped off her label and told judges she was a ‘human being, not a number’. Pictured: Ms Burdett being escorted out by security
During the audition, she famously ripped off her label when she walked into the room and told judges she was a ‘human being, not a number’. She also described herself as a ‘holistic vocal coach’.
After her performance Simon Cowell told her: ‘That was a complete and utter nightmare.’
Ms Burdett then tried to defend herself by explaining ‘the idea behind it was that you get to understand that every line was a different style.’
She also insisted that she was a ‘specialist, not a generalist’ and that her performance was ‘not something to be liked’ but rather something ‘to be understood from an academic perspective’.
Before being escorted out by security, Ms Burdett rounded off her audition by telling the judges to ‘shove a bit of metal right up your a**’.
Ms Burdett’s death was announced on Facebook last year by her friend Reza Bagheri
Ms Burdett reportedly changed her name to Arabella Starchild soon after her audition.
Her death was announced on Facebook last year by her friend Reza Bagheri who asked those who wanted to attend her funeral to get in touch with her brother.
At the time of Ms Burdett’s death, friends left heartfelt tributes on social media, and claimed that she had ‘struggled’ before her death.
One tribute read: ‘It is with great sadness that I post this, as I have only just found out myself. A some time member of the moot, Amy Burdett aka Arabella Starchild passed to the Summerlands earlier this month.’
Another tribute to the aspiring singer read: ‘Ariel Burdett is gone. What a loss.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
