Idols star to go under the knife

26 August 2011 - 02:22 By Harriet McLea
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Idols favourite Freddie van'Dango was reportedly beaten up by a 'cage fighter' during a night out on the town
Idols favourite Freddie van'Dango was reportedly beaten up by a 'cage fighter' during a night out on the town

The Idols star who was assaulted outside a club at the weekend will undergo surgery on his crushed cheekbone soon.

But first 22-year-old Freddie Van'Dango will perform with James Blunt and Chante Moore at the Idols Spectacular tonight.

M-Net spokesman Lani Lombard said yesterday that Van'Dango, "will be admitted to hospital for the necessary surgical procedure in the near future".

Initial reports suggested than Van'Dango's jaw was broken when a "cage fighter" beat him up outside a bar in Greenside, Johannesburg, in the early hours of Saturday. It was, however, later established that his cheekbone was crushed.

Lombard said "the nature of the operation only requires a short stay in hospital, which means that Freddie . should still be able to stay in the competition as long as he has the support of the voting public".

Van'Dango's surgery will be paid for by M-Net because the medical insurance provided by Idols' production company, Nevermachine, excludes injuries suffered in the contestants' off-time and involving the consumption of alcohol.

M-Net director Theo Erasmus said: "The future careers and image of our Idols are very important to us".

He said the surgery would not disrupt the show and that "the wellbeing of our Idols contestants is extremely important to us".

In an apology posted on his Facebook page, Van'Dango said he "never raised a fist or fought back" during the altercation. He admitted that his "behaviour was out of line and inappropriate for an Idol" and said he hoped people disappointed with him would give him another chance.

Van'Dango is one of eight contestants still vying for the title. He asked people to vote based on the contestants' performances and not because they felt sorry for him or hated him for the way he behaved.

"We all deserve a fair and equal chance," he said.

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