Leeloo's casting sparks family reactions
The casting of Leeloo in Star Academy 2026 has sparked reactions from the candidates' families. The fourteenth season of Star Academy, currently ongoing on TF1 since its launch on October 10, 2026, has seen Leeloo stand out as one of the seventeen academicians selected for the castle of Dammarie-les-Lys.Leeloo performs on opening night
Leeloo opened the first prime with the song Training Season by Dua Lipa. Her father, comedian François Pirette, was present in the audience of Studio 217 and faced questions about potential family support for her participation.Father denies involvement in casting
François Pirette denied any involvement in Leeloo's casting, stating during an interview with Soir Mag that he was unaware the production had contacted his daughter. He emphasized that there was no intervention from his side and that he was not involved in the process at all.Leeloo's musical journey was private
Pirette mentioned that his daughter had been writing and composing songs in Brussels for several months without sharing her work with her close ones. Her parents only learned of her progress after her first validated audition.Parents support Leeloo's ambitions
Pirette and his wife were aware of Leeloo's musical ambitions, but seeing her perform a hit song live during Star Academy’s prime, in front of millions of viewers, was an emotional experience. The comedian admitted he had never heard his daughter sing in public before this first televised performance.Leeloo faces confidence challenges
He noted that Leeloo had a loss of confidence in herself, which he understands, given her inexperience with public performances. Despite doubts expressed by Leeloo during her first debriefing with drama teacher Lydia Bouchard, Pirette regularly follows the episodes of Star Academy on TF1 and hopes the public will remember Leeloo's name rather than that of her father.
