Gabriella Cilmi tells Brisbane Times she’s upset about the backlash she received after her ARIA speeches, where she was accused by some journalists of being drunk, while others believed she was ungracious. “I had been working very hard and it was all pretty crazy,” the 17-year-old said. “I didn’t expect to win all six … I couldn’t think of things to say six times. I was kind of overwhelmed.”
Meanwhile, Cilmi’s boss, Universal Republic president Monte Lipman, says the ‘Sweet About Me’ singer is poised for additional success in 2009 when her album sees a U.S. and Japan release. “Gabriella is this year’s breakthrough artist, perfectly positioned for unparalleled US mainstream success,” Lipman said. Read more.