The second prime of *Star Academy* 2024 on October 19 introduced a game-changing rule allowing one of the top three students—Ulysse, Franck, or Marie—to gain immunity. Emotional performances marked the evening, including Maïa’s collaboration with Grand Corps Malade. In a viewer vote, Maylis was eliminated despite her heartfelt efforts, becoming the first contestant to leave this season. Viewers expressed disappointment over the decision, particularly Thomas, who mourned her departure. The tour for top students is set to begin on February 21, 2025.
The competition experienced a dramatic shift on Saturday, October 19, during the second prime of Star Academy 2024. Viewers witnessed the introduction of a new rule that redefined the game’s dynamics: immunity was awarded to one of the week’s top three students, who then had to choose among themselves while performing Daniel Lavoine’s La vie ne m’apprend rien. The contenders were Ulysse, a fan favorite, along with Franck and Marie, who impressed the teachers during an emotionally charged performance.
Other standout performances included Maïa, who collaborated with Grand Corps Malade for a soft rendition of Bais je t’aime. Additionally, Marguerite and Franck honored the victims of the Nice attack on July 14, 2016, with a heartfelt rendition of Les feux d’artifice, a song by Calogero.
Audience Discontent Over Student Vote
As the competition progressed, it was time to determine which of the three at-risk students—Maylis, Paul, and Thomas—would be eliminated. Thomas performed Slimane’s Des milliers de je t’aime, while Paul chose to sing the classic French tune Mistral gagnant by Renaud. Maylis delivered a rendition of Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, but ultimately, her performance wasn’t enough to secure her safety. She became the first contestant of season 12 to leave the Château de Dammarie-lès-Lys. The previous day, she had shared her thoughts about the possibility of leaving, expressing, ‘I’m keeping a smile on my face, a good mood, because it’s an incredible experience that you only live through once. I want to keep creating links with the people who are here.’
At 23 years old, Maylis failed to win over both the audience and her peers. The viewers overwhelmingly opted to save Thomas, while the fellow students favored Paul for survival. Opinions about her elimination were sharply divided on social media, with comments reflecting a range of emotions: ‘So upset for Maylis, she deserved to stay more than the others.’, ‘What a waste.’, ‘She should never have been eliminated.’, and ‘Looks like a bad TV movie.’ It was clear that Thomas was particularly affected by Maylis’s departure, showcasing his sorrow upon returning to the castle.
Thomas’s Emotional Response
On social media, viewers were captivated by a moment when Thomas sat at the piano in the lounge, clutching one of Maylis’s sweaters. Comments ranged from ‘He’s in full Netflix series mode.’ to ‘Somebody tell Thomas that Maylis isn’t gone for good.’, with many noting his deep nostalgia for her presence. Unfortunately, Maylis will not be joining the Star Academy tour in 2025.
In the upcoming year, the top students from the 2024 class will embark on a series of concerts, with tickets already available. The tour begins in Épernay, located in the Marne region of France, on February 21.