I'm much wiser now, says Karin
2007-12-13 09:36
Cape Town - "Things have changed a lot after the murder and I feel like people have been holding me responsible."
Those words came from last season's Idols winner, Karin Kortjé.
She opened up her heart this week in a telephonic interview with Die Burger, on the events of the past year.
She was disappointed that the producers of Idols didn't approach her for the finals.
Reports that they were unable to reach her were "a load of nonsense".
'People turned their backs on me'
"People were expecting me to be there and wanted to know from me why I wasn't singing.
"I just told them that as I understood it, Idols had changed its concept for the final."
She said at one stage she thought people had turned their backs on her because of her former boyfriend Cheslyn Williams, who was under a cloud of suspicion regarding a murder.
Williams has already pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering mother-of-two Renate Kellerman, who owned Le Petit Chateau-guest house in Durbanville.
"After that things just got worse and worse."
"The more I apologised for something I hadn't done, the more it seemed to count against me. What I needed at that stage was people, professional people, to help me in my career," Kortjé said.
'My child's safety comes first'
She and her son Cameron are currently renting a house in a security complex in Wetton near Lansdowne.
"It's a quiet and peaceful area. The crime in Cape Town is very bad and my child's safety comes first."
She thought the negative publicity generated by the murder had affected her emotionally, and damaged her career.
"This I know; my shows have taken a dip. It was something huge for me. I was disappointed in myself for taking certain decisions, but I'm a better person now.
Things happen to you for a reason, and a person makes the most of a bad situation."
She said she hadn't retained ties with anyone at Idols.
Second CD
"I don't know why."
Kortjé said she was very busy at this time of year with her shows.
She was waiting for her recording company Sony BMG to approach her about the possibility of making a second CD.
"I thought the first CD could have been marketed more (aggressively) but I hope there'll be something in future. I'm quite patient about it. There's about three years left of my contract."
She wants to enter 2008 with a positive attitude.
"I'm taking it one step at a time, and whatever must be, will be. Life goes on. I've realised that if I don't take care of myself, no-one else will.
"I'm wiser now and I think more carefully before deciding."
She wished the new Idols winner Jody Williams well with her career.
"She's gorgeous and I wish her everything of the best. She's going to go places."