A Disappointing Album Launch in Darwin
Guy Sebastian, a former Australian Idol winner and chart-topping singer, recently found himself in an awkward situation during the launch of his new album. The event took place at a JB Hi-Fi store in Darwin’s Casuarina Square, but it ended abruptly due to an unexpected moment involving a young girl.
Only a small number of people had gathered for the signing session, which was meant to mark the release of his tenth studio album, 100 Times Around The Sun. Store staff claimed that around 40 people were present, but witnesses reported that the actual number was much lower—possibly just eight individuals. This underwhelming turnout led to an uncomfortable atmosphere during the event.
The awkward moment occurred when a young girl approached Sebastian with a painting she had created of him. She wanted him to keep it, but he politely declined, suggesting that she should keep the artwork instead. He praised her talent, saying the painting made him look like a “police officer” and that she had “nailed it.” Despite his efforts to remain positive, Sebastian and his team left the store shortly after, appearing tired and disheartened.
The shopping center, located on the outskirts of Darwin, is not known for its high-end brands. Instead, it features more affordable retailers such as Connor, Lowes, and Tarocash. This setting contrasted sharply with the image of a major music star launching an album. Several customers continued shopping without noticing Sebastian, while others were surprised by his presence.
One witness described how he initially thought the small group of people near the checkout counter were just waiting to pay. He later admitted that he laughed at the sight of Sebastian looking out of place in the store. Another customer had a tense encounter with Sebastian’s security team, who asked him to move aside as they prepared to pass through the area.
Despite the low turnout, some employees at the store said that quite a few people attended the event. However, others admitted they were unaware of Sebastian’s visit until they started their shifts. Notably, local media did not show up for the discreetly promoted launch, and Sebastian himself did not share any photos of the event on his social media accounts.
Sebastian performed at the Darwin Festival the same night, but he was in South Australia the following day for another event, which he posted about on Instagram. He also shared photos from the Logies this month but omitted any mention of his performance at Westfield Parramatta, where he played to a very small crowd.
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment at the lack of support for Sebastian’s latest performance. A TikTok video showing him singing his hit song Like It Like That in a shopping mall received over 218,000 views. Many viewers were surprised to see such a large crowd at the event, with some questioning why there were so few people.
Comments on the video included remarks like, “Why is Guy Sebastian casually playing in Parramatta haha?” and “Bro this guy fell off the face of the earth just to return like this.” Some fans speculated that Sebastian might be struggling financially or that his career has taken a downturn.
The singer’s recent departure from The Voice Australia had shocked the entertainment industry. Despite his long-standing success, with over 1.3 billion streams since his debut in 2003, Sebastian’s latest performance and album have faced criticism. Fans took to platforms like X to roast his new single, Get It Done, with one user commenting, “Is this from Guy Sebastian's new album, because it sounds like almost every other Guy Sebastian song I know.”
As Sebastian continues to promote his new work, the events in Darwin highlight a shift in his public presence and the challenges he now faces in maintaining his popularity. Whether this marks a temporary setback or a larger trend remains to be seen.