Chico Slimani, known for his appearance on The X Factor, says he’s overcome serious financial difficulties after being defrauded in an investment scam.
I still remember when Chico first appeared on TV back in 2005! He was born in Bridgend, and I was immediately hooked when he made it to the quarter-finals of Simon Cowell’s show. Then, the following year, ‘It’s Chico Time’ came out and shot straight to number one – a truly unforgettable moment for a fan like me!
Slimani’s music career was brief. After his initial success, his songs stopped becoming hits, and his final single – a charity song with the Rainbow Child Foundation – didn’t make the charts when it came out in 2010.
Islam Slimani, a 54-year-old known for his impressive physical condition, invested his fortune in a health and fitness-focused investment opportunity in the Middle East, but unfortunately lost everything.
He explained to The Sun that moving into health and fitness felt natural, as he’s always been involved in it throughout his life. He started with martial arts and a desire for natural bodybuilding, which then evolved into a broader focus on overall health and wellbeing.
It’s all about understanding your body and mind, and learning how to reach your full potential.
It all began with my initial project in late 2014. Around that time, a group of friends and I made a significant investment in Dubai.
It was a really tough time when we lost everything to a scam. Honestly, it felt devastating. But after picking up the pieces, I started to believe something better was meant to happen, that this wasn’t how my story was supposed to end. I always figured that whole situation wasn’t part of the plan.
Slimani later re-entered the wellness world with BlockFit, a unique program blending dance, martial arts, yoga, and meditation, all set to original music.
The workout quickly gained popularity and was added to all 69 of Duncan Bannatyne’s gyms – Bannatyne being a former investor on the show Dragon’s Den – until the COVID-19 pandemic caused most businesses to temporarily shut down.
The pandemic’s effects went beyond just economic hardship; it deeply impacted people’s lives personally. Slimani tragically lost several friends under 50 to suicide as the world shut down.
The former X Factor contestant now focuses on helping people manage depression and anxiety through breathing exercises.
Slimani started by offering his services for free online, and that initial effort has now grown into a thriving business hosting retreats in various locations around the globe.
Slimani, who leads breathwork retreats in places like Bali, Thailand, and Morocco, described how powerfully transformative the experience can be. He explained that people often arrive feeling burdened by problems and stress, but leave equipped with practical techniques to manage their daily lives.
In December, Slimani went to court to fight a charge of driving under the influence, claiming the failed breathalyzer test was due to cough medicine he’d taken.
I was shocked to hear the details in court yesterday. Apparently, when police stopped the singer on Chase Way in Barnet on December 13th, his breathalyzer reading was just barely over the legal limit – only one microgram! It’s incredible to think he almost avoided prosecution, but unfortunately, even that small amount was enough to bring charges, as the court heard on December 30th.
As a long-time follower of these cases, I was really interested to hear in court today that common medications – even something like cough syrup – can actually interfere with the accuracy of breathalyzer results. My understanding is the defence team is bringing in a toxicology expert to do some calculations and present scientific proof of how this can happen. It’s fascinating stuff, and could really impact how these tests are viewed.
Slimani is scheduled to return to court on April 9th for his four-hour trial, and he has been released on bail without any conditions.
Okay, so I was just explaining to a client what happens if they miss court. I made it really clear: if you don’t show up for your trial, things can move forward without you, and honestly, a warrant for your arrest will almost certainly be issued right away. It’s a serious situation, and avoiding court just isn’t worth the risk. I always tell people, show up, or be prepared for immediate consequences.
Chico’s single, “It’s Chico Time,” reached number one in the UK in February 2006 and remained there for two weeks.
He became the first X Factor runner-up to have his debut single peak at number one.
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2026-02-03 17:19