3 days ago
X Factor finalist looks unrecognisable seven years after drug controversy as he releases new album
ONE of the finalists of The X Factor looks almost unrecognisable seven years after a drug controversy.
He auditioned for the ITV show three times before finally getting to the live shows in 2018.
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Anthony Russell, 35, competed for a record contract on the fifteenth series of The X Factor.
After his tenure on the show, he now looks completely different with long hair and a beard.
In a video promoting his new music, he wore a grey tracksuit combo, monochrome t-shirt and black trainers with fluorescent
He captioned the clip: "2nd Album Street Songs Project is out now everywhere can't believe the response it had, nothin but love keep streaming."
In another snap on social media, he donned a heavy leather jacket, grey jeans and thick trainers after he performed at the Berlin Music Video Awards.
He originally auditioned for X Factor in 2007 in front of Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue when he was just 17-years-old.
He re-auditioned for the talent competition in 2017 where three of the judges said yes.
In 2018, he was brought back to be mentored by Louis Tomlinson where he finished third in the live final.
The One Direction star heard about Anthony's addiction and reached out to him to help him go to rehab.
He paid for the aspiring singer to get clean, and was left in tears when Anthony returned to audition.
X Factor's Louis Tomlinson in tears at Anthony Russell's audition
The Sun exclusively revealed that Anthony was kicked off The X Factor Live tour after finding himself at the centre of a 'drugs' scandal back in February 2019.
We exclusively revealed that tour staff found suspicious plastic bags filled with white powder in his hotel room.
Just hours before he was due on stage in Hull, the singer agreed to leave the touring show on February 25, 2019.
He broke his silence after allegedly being caught with "cocaine" as he claimed that he was "dealing with his issues."
Winners of The X Factor
WHO won each season of the long-running ITV talent competition?
Series one (2004): Steve Brookstein
Series two (2005): Shayne Ward
Series three (2006): Leona Lewis
Series four (2007): Leon Jackson
Series five (2008): Alexandra Burke
Series six (2009): Joe McElderry
Series seven (2010): Matt Cardle
Series eight (2011): Little Mix
Series nine (2012): James Arthur
Series 10 (2013): Sam Bailey
Series 11 (2014): Ben Haenow
Series 12 (2015): Louisa Johnson
Series 13 (2016): Matt Terry
Series 14 (2017): Rak-Su
Series 15 (2018): Dalton Harris
A show source told us at the time: "We found suspicious plastic bags with a white powder in them.
"We think it was cocaine and we obviously couldn't keep him on the tour."
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