“I Went on Stage Dying Inside”: The Next Star Contestant Reveals Her Divorce

Elior Shemesh, who appeared on the latest season of The Next Star with her then-husband Avi Ashur, has revealed that the couple divorced after seven years together. She said the breakup happened while the show was still filming, and she described for the first time how painful that period was for her.

In a video posted to her Instagram account, Shemesh said, “We separated while The Next Star was being filmed.” She added, “Right before the performance I was dying inside.” According to Shemesh, viewers saw her on screen while she was going through a severe personal crisis, and she had to keep filming and performing despite the emotional strain.

“I would go up for a performance when, moments before, I was choking, I was dying inside, I was crying my heart out,” she said. “I had to go on stage for The Next Star performance, but everything had to look fine, and we had to pretend we were still together. I could not say a word.”

Despite the difficult period, Shemesh said she is at peace with her choice. “I am extremely proud of myself,” she wrote. “I knew how to get up and leave a place that was not good for me. I knew how to choose myself and my freedom.” She also said staying in an unhealthy place is “the worst thing you can do,” because it will not improve on its own. Her disclosure drew many responses from followers, who offered support and encouragement.