Don’t use the words “emotionally fragile” to describe Didi Benami. That may have been how she was portrayed onscreen during American Idol‘s ninth season, but the 10th-place finisher says there’s a lot more to her than crying spells and emotional reminiscing. And indeed, when Didi stopped by the Idolatry studios earlier this week, we dished a wide range of topics — including the lost Lillith vibe of season 9; her original but ultimately botched plan for “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”; and the ousted contestant who texted her right after her elimination. Press play below for our full three-part interview, and to get all my Idol news and commentary, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak. If you’re on an iPhone/iPad, you can head to our Idolatry hub to watch Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. (RELATED: This week’s American Idol Power List: Vote for your favorite!; Adam Lambert exclusive: Confirmed as ‘American Idol’ mentor next week! What do you think?)
Re…re….REJECTING THE SYMPATHY VOTE?!!?
She cried every. single. week. If that wasn’t for sympathy votes I don’t know what is.
Tim Urban is the one that seems to be getting the sympathy votes.
Yeah, I agree with you, Quirky. Didi is just a naturally sobby person. She doesn’t cry on purpose.
Tim Urban……….. yeah don’t want to talk about him.
Cry every time someone speaks to you and then claim you don’t want the sympathy vote. Right Didi…that’s believable.
Wow the haters on here today. I think she was just trying to say she doesnt want to be labeled. Give the girl a damn break.
I felt like if they didn’t have a sob story they wouldn’t have even gotten to Hollywood – that is the worst part about this season…I feel she had the most interesting voice up there with Bowersox – the rest Bower-sucks!
gokey should learn from didi
” I didn’t want to bring it up because I respect rebecca too much to do that”
learn gokey learn
im envisioning what could have been with a final 5 of katlyn, didi, bowersox, Alex and Lee
O what could have been if kids could not vote…
Yup, it’s clear that you don’t knwo what is.
@Logistics: What are you talking about? Ever heard of emotions or nervousness? How cynnical can you be to automatically assume that she’s intentionally gunning for the sympathy vote? WTF?
Didi didn’t cry at all the last few weeks when she was being absolutely slammed by the judges (she looked like she was trying to hold it in, and she sometimes struggled to speak). She also didn’t cry when she was eliminated. So what, Didi cries easily. She tried to hold it in from the moment that she knew the TV kept filming catching her tears. Didi was not trying to get sympathy votes, she didn’t want to be known as the cry baby of the Season. Some people just cry more easily than others, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t strong. There are a lot of other reasons that some people cry more easily than others (eg. some people have different chemical balances in their bodies & the shape of someone’s tear ducts affects how easy it is for them to cry – women’s tear ducts are shaped differently to men’s).
darn, I wished she had stayed for the this week, she would be awesome… can someone get rid of Tim … and Ellen
JC – Oh, I KNOW, she would have been awesome this week. Very sad to see her go – she was my combined favourite along with Crystal (even though Didi wasn’t always consistent). I loved her ‘Fire’ song the best, and also ‘Rhiannon’, ‘Terrified’ and ‘No Good’.
OMG! Someone else who thinks Ellen D should pound pavement!
it really bugs me that she got voted off! and what bothers me the most is that it was her own fault! she cried all the time which must’ve annoyed bunch of people and also why couldn’t she just sit down and do an acoustic on top 12?! first week was good but then she just kept doing the stupidest songs!! i really wanted her to do TLC’s Waterfalls acoustically but it seems the people just dont have imagination and dont watch the show in previous seasons to know what to do.. frustrating!
DiDi shows that they just don’t know how to take a stand on their performance. This is one of the reasons that I think Adam will be a good mentor this coming week. He obviously was able work the Idol machine to his advantage. He did the songs he wanted the way he wanted them done. If he can impart that wisdom to the current idols, it should make things a bit more interesting.
Didi, why oh why did you have to go?! This interview only makes me love you more. I can think of at least two other contestants who should have gone in your place. Please go make a record. I will buy it.
Yes, Slezak, someone does need to take the phones away from the children…
By the way, nice job glossing over “you’re no good”
The problem is that those children buy CD’s, go to concerts and have a lot of money to spend(their parents) Case in point Miley Cyrus tickets and Jonas brothers tickets being scalped in the hundreds of dollars.
Yes, as much as it frustrates us, the children have the money and the free time – thus they also have Idols. Especially tweens. It’s their show as much as ours.
oh my! i just loooove this girl’s voice..
im done with AI.. I don’t care whoever wins..
didi is the best for me. <3
i love didi
and i love how you added this wasn’t the order of when she was supposed to go, i totally agree, i wanted her in a few more weeks.
this interview was awesome
thanks slezak
I love how your eyes light up at the mere mention of Crystal’s name lol! I miss Didi!!!!
I liked Didi…but u can tell she’s still shocked and mad over her elimination…and I kinda don’t blame her.
Thanks alot, Vote For the Worst!
Didi/Crystal songwriting collaboration OMG YES!! Amazing.
I like Didi too. I wish it was her, Crystal, Siobhan, Katelyn and Lilly (and even Michelle) who should be the last women standing.
Of course there were others who should have gone before DiDi and Katelyn and Lily and Alex and I’m sorry the season of the women is detonating. But in regards to this interview with DiDi, she is not owning that she WAS a nervous wreck and cried all the time. She was bringing this on herself as well as the screwy voting that is predictable on Idol every single season.
I agree. Not only did she cry alot, but she had a stank attitude when critiqued.
I agree, she couldn’t take criticism well.
If she gets the change, she will make a good album. Her voice is lovely.
why didn’t you ask her what song she almost auditioned with she said let it be was a quick switch
Didi was AWESOME on Letterman tonight!