Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
In 2018, Jamaican singer Dalton Harris won X Factor when he was considered one of the most consistent contestants on the show who impressed judges every time he got on stage. Dalton’s Dream is a documentary film that delves into the life of the former X Factor winner to explore themes of fame, celebrity culture, and the music career through Harris’ life over the years.
According to the closing credits of the documentary, Dalton Harris is currently pursuing regional theatre in the UK, as stated in a review in The Guardian. The film also shows him moving into a luxurious apartment in London after his 2018 win. Moreover, the documentary deals with his experiences with homophobia, depression, suicidal thoughts, and overcoming childhood abuse.
Growing up as one of 22 siblings, Dalton Harris had a prolonged and close experience with poverty. He reportedly spent the first fifteen years of his life in two rooms. He shared the rooms with five other siblings as well as frequent lodgers. Electricity was never a facility, and food was sometimes unavailable. The siblings sometimes had to bring water from the river, as per what Dalton told the judges and audience, the Mirror reported.
During his late teenage years, Dalton Harris slept beside the river in basements, shops, and churches. His signing skills were reportedly highlighted at a Sunday school, where he was encouraged to pursue the profession.
In 2011, Dalton Harris won one million Jamaican dollars at a national talent show. This was after a teacher heard him sing and entered him into a competition. By the time he was 18, he had turned into a workaholic, following which he decided to make it to X Factor.
Dalton’s Dream: What happened after Dalton Harris’ X Factor success?
Dalton Harris was the last winner of X Factor as the show was canceled post-2018 owing to declining viewership. Anthony Russell and Scarlett Lee were his fellow finalists in the final season of X Factor. After his win, he reportedly won a record deal with Simon Cowell’s Syco Music, the Caribbean National Weekly reported.
Following his success, Dalton Harris reportedly focused on his stage career and became an active advocate of mental well-being. In 2020, he came out as pansexual. However, after he came out, the singer reportedly faced much backlash from Jamaica. Two years later, in August 2022, he announced that he is now a father to a daughter.
Earlier, Dalton Harris had expressed that he was abused as a child and that he still bears bruises from the time when he was repeatedly beaten. Although he chose not to reveal who the perpetrator was, Harris said on X Factor that he bears numerous cuts across his body. As per the Mirror, he became homeless at the age of 15. However, he managed to survive by recycling school jotters and painting houses. He carved the jotters into hearts and sold them as diaries.
Dalton’s Dream was released in UK Cinemas on February 2, 2024. The documentary also features the singer returning to Jamaica for a gig following his coming out as a pansexual person, a move widely considered brave owing to the homophobic criticism he faced following the announcement in 2020.
