They’re one of the most popular girl groups in the history of Australian pop music.
And while Bardot were known for their wholesome image and bubblegum pop hits, they unwittingly flirted with controversy back in 2000.
In an iconic photo shoot from the time, band member Belinda Chapple wore a bandana inspired by the Confederate battle flag.
Hasn’t aged well: Belinda Chapple from Australian girl group Bardot was styled in a Confederate flag bandana in this photo shoot from 2000. Pictured (left to right): Katie Underwood, Sally Polihronas, Sophie Monk, Tiffani Wood and Belinda
The Confederate battle flag is considered problematic these days and is often associated with the Civil War, slavery and white supremacy in the United States.
However, supporters of the flag often argue that it’s used to show pride in Southern heritage and isn’t hateful.
For many Australians at the time, the battle flag was just a symbol for country music and the American South and didn’t have any racist connotations.
Divisive: The Confederate battle flag is considered problematic these days and is often associated with the Civil War, slavery and white supremacy in the United States
Different time: For many Australians at the time, the Confederate flag was just a symbol for country music and the American South and didn’t have any racist connotations
Bardot’s debut single, Poison, went straight to the top of the charts in the year 2000, making them the hottest girl group in Australia at the time.
But just two years later, the band members found themselves pushed aside so that breakout star Sophie Monk could pursue a solo career.
Belinda, now 45, revealed on the Back From Reality podcast earlier this week that finding out her career was over was a brutal experience.
‘It happened overnight… we were so blindsided,’ she said of the decision to dissolve Bardot so that Sophie, 40, could go solo.
‘We were so blindsided’: Belinda (pictured) recently revealed the brutal way the band found out they were ‘finished’ so that breakout star Sophie Monk could launch a solo career
‘We were ready for years ahead, with so many bookings to look forward to and our album was doing really well,’ she added.
Belinda apparently discovered her managers had other plans when she accidentally stumbled across a stack of CDs for Sophie’s first solo album.
‘I wasn’t meant to see it,’ she said.
Belinda confronted the management team to find out what was going on.
‘I wasn’t meant to see it’: Belinda apparently discovered her managers had plans for Sophie’s (pictured) solo career when she accidentally stumbled across a stack of CDs for her first album
‘They couldn’t look me in the eye. I said, “You’re going to tell me now what all this stuff is? What are you guys doing? Is she doing a side project?”‘
She was sent home and the band was called in for a meeting the next day.
‘He just sat us down and said, “It’s over… Bardot’s over. That’s it,”‘ she said.
While Belinda and the other band members, Sally Polihronas, Katie Underwood and Tiffani Wood, have mostly stayed out of the spotlight following the group’s split in 2002, Sophie’s career has gone from strength to strength.
She has appeared in Hollywood movies, including Date Night and Click, hosted two seasons of Love Island Australia and was the Bachelorette in 2017.
Star: While Belinda and the other band members, Sally Polihronas, Katie Underwood and Tiffani Wood, have mostly stayed out of the spotlight following the group’s split in 2002, Sophie’s (pictured) career has gone from strength to strength
Bardot’s former manager David Caplice claimed in April that the band split following an ‘explosive’ backstage bust-up before their Mardi Gras performance in 2002.
‘I remember the girls became very adversarial to each other towards the end, when envy and infighting was out of control,’ he told News.com.au.
‘It wasn’t that particular performance that heralded the end for me – it was the blow-up backstage at the Mardi Gras prior to their 2am headline performance that really shocked everybody.
‘That explosive encounter was the death blow for the band… Bardot could have been the biggest girl band in the world.’
The band members later denied that any altercation took place at the 2002 Mardi Gras, saying David’s claim was simply ‘not true’.
Allegations: Bardot’s former manager David Caplice claimed in April that the band split after an ‘explosive’ backstage bust-up before their Mardi Gras performance in 2002 (pictured)