| Whatever you think of frankie cocozza, you can bet it won’t be as bad as how he sees himself right now. Heat has arranged to speak to the 18 year old just two days after he sensationally left the x factor, having been caught taking cocaine on a night out. When we met frankie, he seems very meek. He stares down at his feet, only looking up briefly when we say hello. He attempts a smile. He’s a far cry from the cocky teen we’ve seen splashed across the newspapers every day for the past few weeks. He’s genuinely devastated. Contrary to what the tabloids have said, Frankie is full of remorse. He hasn’t been sleeping, not because he’s been out partying, but because he’s back in his mums house in Brighton. Aside from a short visit into town to get a pair of trainers, he’s been staring at the walls, driving himself mad over what he’s done. As Frankie sits down to speak to us, it’s clear that it’s only just started to sink in.
Interviewer: How are you, Frankie?
Frankie: not great, i’ve been such an idiot.
Interviewer: Talk us through what happened..
Frankie: I made a massive mistake. Too many people found out about it, and in the end i didn’t deserve to be there.
Interviewer: What was the mistake?
Frankie: I had a line of coke.
Interviewer: Just a line? The Sun said you’d done coke for six nights..
Frankie: I have only ever taken coke 6 times in my life, but that night all i can remember is taking one line. I was so drunk when it happened. But I never took any other drugs during the x factor, just the one slip up.
Interviewer: Did you do drugs in the x factor house?”
Frankie: No, it was in an apartment . I met my friends there after the show on Saturday.
Interviewer: What happened?
Frankie: We all went to Funky Buddha after the show, at about 11pm. I got so fucked on booze. I left the club at 4am and went back to the apartment with a load of people and took the line.
Interviewer: Was that the first time you’d taken drugs?
Frankie: No, but it was the first time I’d taken it on the show, and i regret it massively.
Interviewer: What other drugs have you done?
Frankie: I’ve smoked weed before.
Interviewer: Who caught you out?
Interviewer: One of the X Factor bosses overheard me saying it to someone on Sunday and confronted me with it Monday morning.
Interviewer: What did you say?
Frankie: I admitted it, I wasn’t going to lie. I’d been so stupid. The producer said, “Do you think you deserve to be in?” I said, “No, and that’s why I’m going to leave.”
Interviewer: So you went before you could be pushed?”
Frankie: -nods- I was such an idiot. I didn’t ask what would’ve happened if I’d told them I didn’t want to leave.
Interviewer: Were you escorted from the X Factor house?
Frankie: No, I think they didn’t do that to me because I hadn’t been kicked out.
Interviewer: What did you say to the other contestants?
Frankie: I just told them O was sorry and that I hoped the best for all of them. They’re all going to have amazing careers.
Interviewer: How did you feel?
Frankie: Devastated. I just thought, “What is this going to do to my family? What are my friends gonna say?” but I knew it was the right thing to do.
Interviewer: How do you feel now?
Frankie: I regret it like you wouldn't believe. -pauses and stares at the floor- but I know I can’t do anything about it. It was a big opportunity. I just hope it’s not the last one I ever get.
Interviewer: What did your mum say?
Frankie: She cried. She was so worried about me. My dad was devastated, je was really shouting at me and telling me how much I'd blown it. I had to say to him, “I know you’re mad at me, but please can you just be there for me? I’m gutted enough as it is.”
Interviewer: Was it the first time your parents knew you’d taken drugs?
Frankie: I’m 18, I go out all the time. I’m pretty sure they know I’ve tried stuff before, but I know they’re gutted.
Interviewer: What did Gary say to you?
Frankie: He heard that the producers were speaking to me about something serious, and he texted “Are you alrght, mate?” and I said, “No - I need to go”
He said “Get your head down and get some rest.” and then I quit and didn’t speak to him again.
Interviewer: You haven’t spoken since?!
Frankie: No. I just can’t face it. He’s texted saying “Give me a call, mate” but I feel so bad. I think I’ll completely crack up if I call him.
Interviewer: Do you feel you’ve let Gary down?
Frankie: So, so badly.
Interviewer: Have you spoken to the other contestants?
Frankie: They all keep texting to see how I am, because we are genuinely mates. Everyone cares about each other. Even kitty. -smiles-
Interviewer: Have you spoken to Simon?”
Frankie: No.
Interviewer: In your statement, you said “My life had got out of control.” What did you mean by that?
Frankie: Just that I kept going out all the time. I wasn’t concentrating on what i had - I wasn’t behaving normally.
Interviewer: Did anyone at the X Factor try to stop you?
Frankie: They sat me down a few times and I didn’t listen.
Interviewer: You became much more famous for for your habits offstage than onstage. Do you think that was part of the problem? Was that encouraged by the X Factor?”
Frankie: No. I always said I would be who I was on the show and going out is a massive part of who I am. I did still work hard, but no one’s going to write about that.
Interviewer: Has it sunk in yet?
Frankie: It’s just starting to, and I’ll be upset when I watch the show on Saturday. I know I’ll cry. I’m happy someone got to go in as my replacement though.
Interviewer: How has it affected you?
Frankie: It’s been horrible. I’m going to regret it for ever.
Interviewer: Has it put you off drugs?
Frankie: It shouldn’t take something like this to put me off drugs. Drugs are vile.
Interviewer: If you were watching yourself, what would you think?
Frankie: I’d think, “What an idiot.”
Interviewer: Do you think people will change their opinion on you after this?
Frankie: I don’t know. People out there really do hate me.
Interviewer: In what way?
Frankie: Frankie Cokeupthenozza was trending worldwide on twitter. people were shouting “i’m so happy you’ve gone, I hate you!” on the street.
Interviewer: Do you think you’ll try again next year?”
Frankie: No. Me and The X Factor are over. I’ve blown it.
Interviewer: What would you like to say to Gary now?
Frankie: I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing he was..-voice wobbles- I feel so bad for letting him down.
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