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Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Britain's Got Talent finalist found NOT guilty of pinning down and raping two women while studying opera
A BRITAIN'S Got Talent finalist has been found not guilty of pinning down and raping two women. Andrew Johnston, 30, allegedly grabbed the women by the throat during sex and refused to wear a condom. 5 Andrew Johnston has been found not guilty of raping two women Credit: PA 5 He appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2008 Credit: TalkBack The former choirboy was 13 when he finished third on the second series of the ITV talent show in 2008. Johnston received a £1million record deal with Simon Cowell's Syco Music record label and his album 'One Voice' made it to number five in the UK Chart. The alleged offences happened a number of years later while he was studying opera at the Royal Academy of Music. Johnston has now been found not guilty of two charges of rape and one of sexual assault. Southwark Crown Court was told during the first alleged attack, Johnston removed a condom during sex - causing his victim to beg him to stop. Despite her pleas, he was accused of carrying on and grabbing her throat while pinning her down. He also "became more forceful" and slammed the headboard into the wall as the woman began "panicking", jurors were told. During her evidence, she claimed she felt forced to stay over at Johnston's home because she was too scared to leave. She said: "It was difficult to me. I felt frozen and stuck in place. "I felt trapped and like I couldn't move. I felt stuck and anxious." Following the alleged attack, the woman bumped into Johnston on a night out where he groped her bottom and refused to leave, it was said. Jurors were told he then grabbed her by the shoulders and verbally abused her before "forcibly" kissing the woman. The court heard the second woman was allegedly attacked three months later after Johnston took her to a "sex club" in London. She told the singer to wear a condom, which Johnston was accused of removing during intercourse. Maryam Syed, prosecuting, said: "She described how she started to feel the defendant's hands around her neck, and no matter how many times she removed them, she said the defendant Mr Johnston kept on putting his hands back around her throat. "She made, she told police, multiple attempts to remove his hands but he did not remove them." Johnston accused both women of telling "a pack of lies" in his own evidence. The singer described his style of sex as "fast, energetic, maybe a bit passionate" but told the jury he was never aggressive, always used a condom and that the sex was consensual. Johnston also told jurors he has "never sung a note" since the allegations were made against him. 5 Johnston allegedly grabbed the women by the throat 5 He had denied the charges against him Credit: PA
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Britain's Got Talent finalist found NOT guilty of pinning down and raping two women while studying opera
A BRITAIN'S Got Talent finalist has been found not guilty of pinning down and raping two women. Andrew Johnston, 30, allegedly Advertisement 5 Andrew Johnston has been found not guilty of raping two women Credit: PA 5 He appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2008 Credit: TalkBack The former choirboy was 13 when he finished third on the second series of the ITV talent show in 2008. Johnston received a £1million record deal with Simon Cowell's Syco Music record label and his album 'One Voice' made it to number five in the UK Chart. The alleged offences happened a number of years later while he was studying opera at the Royal Academy of Music. Johnston has now been found not guilty of two charges of rape and one of sexual assault. Advertisement Southwark Crown Court was told during the first alleged attack, Johnston removed a condom during sex - causing his victim to beg him to stop. Despite her pleas, he was accused of carrying on and grabbing her throat while pinning her down. He also "became more forceful" and slammed the headboard into the wall as the woman began "panicking", jurors were told. During her evidence, she claimed she felt Advertisement Most read in Showbiz Exclusive Pictured She said: "It was difficult to me. I felt frozen and stuck in place. "I felt trapped and like I couldn't move. I felt stuck and anxious." Following the alleged attack, the woman bumped into Johnston on a night out where he groped her bottom and refused to leave, it was said. Jurors were told he then grabbed her by the shoulders and verbally abused her before "forcibly" kissing the woman. Advertisement The court heard the second woman was allegedly attacked three months later after Johnston took her to a "sex club" in London. She told the singer to wear a condom, which Johnston was accused of removing during intercourse. Maryam Syed, prosecuting, said: "She described how she started to feel the defendant's hands around her neck, and no matter how many times she removed them, she said the defendant Mr Johnston kept on putting his hands back around her throat. "She made, she told police, multiple attempts to remove his hands but he did not remove them." Advertisement Johnston accused both women of telling "a pack of lies" in his own evidence. Read more on the Irish Sun The singer described his style of sex as "fast, energetic, maybe a bit passionate" but told the jury he was never aggressive, always used a condom and that the sex was consensual. Johnston also told jurors he has "never sung a note" since the allegations were made against him. 5 Johnston allegedly grabbed the women by the throat Advertisement 5 He had denied the charges against him Credit: PA 5 Johnston wowed the BGT judges as a youngster
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Barbra Streisand teams up with Bob Dylan, Hozier, Ariana Grande, others stars for new duets album
Singer Barbra Streisand will join forces with the legendary singer Bob Dylan , Paul McCartney, Hozier, Ariana Grande and others for a collection of duets, reported Variety. The record is titled "The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two," and is a sequel to her 2014 album "Partners". As per the outlet, the music record will be released on June 27. One of the 11 tracks, "One Heart, One Voice," is not a duet but rather finds Streisand forming a trio with two of the biggest voices in music, Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande, reported Variety. Other singers who have boarded the ship with Barbra Streisand include Sting, James Taylor , Sam Smith , Josh Groban, Tim McGraw and Seal. The first single, a collaboration with Hozier on the classic 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,' has just been released to DSPs. In a statement by Hozier as quoted by Variety, the singer was all praise for Barbra as he collaborates with her for the song. "Barbra Streisand is one of the most enduring and iconic vocalists of our time, and somebody who defined an era with the sheer force of her voice, her talent, charisma and vision. To be asked to join her on a duet was a huge honor and came as a wonderful and welcome surprise." said Hozier as quoted by Variety. The 'Take me to Church' singer believes that his song with Barbra 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' will be a tribute to Roberta Flack's incredible legacy. "Ewan MacColl's 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,' made famous by the stunning Roberta Flack recording, has always mystified me. It is, to me, one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. Like so many, I was deeply saddened to hear of her recent passing. Along with the honour I have to sing on this record with Barbra, I hope this duet offers something of a gesture to Roberta Flack's incredible legacy." added Hozier as quoted by Variety. Dylan has rarely recorded duets over the decades, so fans will be eager for the collaboration between him and Barbra. On her iconic collaborations, the singer Barbra said, "I've always loved singing duets with gifted artists. They inspire me in unique and different make our time in the studio a joy! My new album, 'The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two,' gave me the chance to work and play with some of my old friends, label mates, and new artists too. I admire all of them... and I hope that you'll enjoy listening to our collaborations as much as I enjoyed recording with all of my wonderful partners," as quoted by Variety.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Britain's Got Talent finalist says his lovemaking is 'fast, energetic, maybe a bit passionate' as he denies raping two women
A former Britain's Got Talent finalist accused of raping two women has described his sex in court as 'fast, energetic, maybe a pit passionate' but claims his relationships have always been consensual. Andrew Johnston, 30, who shot to fame on the show as a choirboy who came third in the final, allegedly gripped both his victims by the throat and refused to wear a condom. Johnston, who was studying for a two year diploma in opera at the Royal Academy of Music at the time, denies two counts of rape and one of sexual assault. He gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court today wearing a grey suit and a black tie - even appearing to hold back tears at time. Former choirboy Johnston was just 13 when he finished in third behind dancer George Sampson on the second series of the ITV talent show in 2008. Johnston won a £1 million record deal with Syco Music, a label owned by Simon Cowell, and his album 'One Voice', released in September 2008, made it to number five in the UK charts. He explained that after he had met the first complainant they agreed to go for coffee. 'We went for a couple of coffees. I invited her round to my Marylebone flat. That is the first time we slept together.' 'Was the sex always consensual?', asked Rupert Kent, defending. Johnston replied: 'Absolutely consensual, yes'. He said that on another occasion he turned up drunk at the woman's flat, and he ended up sleep walking out of the flat. 'I have never sleep walked in my life. That is the first time I have ever sleep walked.' He said that he and the woman had sex the following day 'possibly more than once.' 'Do you remember whether a condom was used?', asked Mr Kent. 'A condom was used, yes', Johnston replied. 'I never put my hands anywhere near her neck. My hands were a little above her shoulders... I never held her arms down. She never told me to stop at any point during the intercourse.' 'Do you remember whether she slammed on your chest?', asked Mr Kent. 'She never slammed on my chest', he replied. Mr Kent asked the singer: 'Did you ever apologise to her?' Johnston replied: 'I never apologised because I never did anything wrong. I never saw any blood. She never mentioned any bleeding at all'. However, he accepted that the sex had been 'energetic'. 'I was energetic, fast, I was attracted to her. I was a bit passionate. I was never aggressive towards her at all. I wore a condom at all times.' He accepted that he had been messaging a lot of different women at this time, including a friend of the first woman. 'It was stupid, immature. I probably hurt people's feelings. I wasn't wanting anything more permanent at the time. I should have been more open that I wasn't.' He said that he met the second complainant on the dating app Hinge, and that they met up at a bar. 'We had a really interesting conversation. We got on really well.' He said that she invited him back to her flat. 'We started kissing. I was getting unchanged, she was getting unchanged. We then just began to have sex.' He said that the sex lasted about four or five minutes. 'I never removed the condom. I did not remove the condom.' 'At any point did you hold her around the throat?', asked Mr Kent. 'I did not, no', replied Johnston. 'Did you get a sense that she wanted you to stop?' 'No, not at all'. He said that a few days later the woman invited him to her flat and offered to cook him meatballs, but that he stood her up. 'I stood her up. It wasn't nice. I was seeing quite a few people at the time, that's why I didn't communicate.' Johnston told the jury he has 'never sung a note' since the allegations were made against him and he has suffered from depression, his mental health is 'terrible' and he has broken up with a girlfriend. Giving evidence in court yesterday, his second alleged victim told how she initially was having consensual sex with Johnston, before he placed his hands around her neck and removed the condom without permission. In her police interview, she said she moved his hands away as he was 'actively grabbing' towards her throat and she was 'trying to insinuate that this is not OK'. At some point he stopped and removed the condom, and carried on having sex, the court heard. On the suggestion it should have been immediately obvious she had been raped, the woman said: 'No, I think it takes time to work out.' She added: 'I wanted to gloss over it. I wanted to be able to move on and not to be dealing with years of the aftermath of this.' The victim said she had asked to meet with Johnston after the incident to discuss it. Johnston, of Carlisle, denies two charges of rape and one of sexual assault on a female.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barbra Streisand teams up with Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande on new duets album
Barbra Streisand has teamed up with stars including Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande for her new duets album. The music legend announced The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two, a sequel to her 2014 duet album Partners, and revealed the track listing and her special guests on Wednesday. The 11-track album features duets with Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Sting, Hozier, Sam Smith, Seal, Josh Groban, Tim McGraw and Laufey. In addition, Streisand teams up with fellow pop divas Carey and Grande on the track One Heart, One Voice. "I've always loved singing duets with gifted artists. They inspire me in unique and different ways... and make our time in the studio a joy!" the 83-year-old said in a statement. "My new album, The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two, gave me the chance to work and play with some of my old friends, label mates, and new artists too. I admire all of them... and I hope that you'll enjoy listening to our collaborations as much as I enjoyed recording with all of my wonderful partners." The album's first single, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face with Hozier, was released on Wednesday, and the full record drops on 27 June. On her 2014 album Partners, the Funny Girl star performed duets with the likes of Michael Bublé, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie and John Legend. Two years later, she released a Broadway-inspired duets album called Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway, in which she sang songs from musicals with actors including Jamie Foxx and Melissa McCartney. The Secret Of Life: Partners, Volume Two comes eight years after Streisand released her last album, 2018's Walls.
