Guy Sebastian’s emotional pilgrimage on Who Do You Think You Are?
Australian pop star Guy Sebastian traces his family history back to India and Sri Lanka in the latest episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, which aired on SBS on Tuesday night.
Sebastian was born in Malaysia and migrated to Australia when he was six. In his episode of the show, which helps famous faces research their ancestry, Sebastian is determined to get to the bottom of his mother Nellie’s ethnicity. Born in India, but blue-eyed and fair-skinned, there has always been confusion in the family about his mother’s bloodline.
His quest for answers takes him to one emotional stop in India: His grandmother’s grave, where he’s joined by his mother’s sister and husband – and aunt and uncle he’s never actually met before.
The trio share a hug in the graveyard before Guy dials in his mother to witness the family meeting.
Guy Sebastian meets his aunt and uncle in India. Picture: SBS
“This is a big moment for me. Being here in India and learning about my family, I feel really connected to it in a way I never have before. It’s been a very spiritual experience, and I’ve learned so much about where I come from. I can’t wait to take that back and share it with my family,” Sebastian says.
The Australian Idol winner’s voyage also takes him to Sri Lanka, to reconnect with his father Ivan’s Tamil roots.
While in Sri Lanka, he video calls home for an emotional conversation where he asks his father a question he realises he’s never thought to ask before: Why exactly Guy is named after his grandfather.
On a video call with his father. Picture: SBS.
Guy’s father explains that he was very close to his father, who worked for the St John’s Ambulance.
“He was always very encouraging, always had the nicest things to say,” Ivan recalls.
“Dad was always encouraging me to study, to further our education. Whilst I was studying geology in my second year, Dad met with an accident and he passed away.”
Ivan was attending school away from the family, and “because I was undertaking my exams at the time, the family did not disclose [his death].”
Guy finally learns the reason he was named after his grandfather (pictured). Picture: SBS.
“It was about three months after he passed away that I found out. It was quite devastating – but they were nervous that it might destroy my studies and stop me from completing my education, which is what dad wanted.”
“That’s pretty rough,” Guy says. “I realised, Dad, I’ve never asked you – why did you name me after your dad?”
“Because I was so proud of my dad, of his achievements and his contribution to the community at large,” Ivan explains, choking back tears. “I wanted you to have his name – I was proud of him and I’m proud of you too.”
Who Do You Think You Are? airs 7:30pm Tuesdays on SBS and is available to stream on SBS On Demand. Upcoming subjects this season include Chrissie Swan, Curtis Stone and Rosie Batty.