Chico Slimani, the X Factor star known for his 2005 hit 'Chico Time', has revealed that he was the victim of a Dubai investment scam that wiped out his finances. The 54-year-old, who now works as a fitness and wellness guru, said he and several friends were conned at the end of 2014, losing 'everything'.
In an interview with The Sun, Slimani recalled the moment it all went wrong. 'That was a time when we invested money, lots of friends of ours, in Dubai. And unfortunately, we got conned, and we lost everything,' he said. He reflected that the setback pushed him to start afresh, believing it was part of a bigger plan.
The singer, who shot to fame two decades ago, went on to create BlockFit, a fitness programme combining dance, combat, HIIT, yoga and meditation to original music. It was picked up by Duncan Bannatyne's health clubs and ran across 69 gyms for several years. He also established wellness retreats in Morocco and Portugal, a natural transition given his lifelong interest in health and fitness.
Slimani also faced personal challenges, including a stroke in 2018 and the loss of several friends under 50 to suicide during the pandemic. These tragedies led him to focus on breathwork, which he describes as 'your doctor, therapist, spiritual master all in one'. He initially offered his techniques online for free before hosting his first retreat in Morocco's Atlas Mountains a year later. He now runs 20 retreats worldwide, from the UK to Thailand and Bali.
Speaking about his X Factor days, Slimani said he has fond memories and would love a reunion with his mentor, Sharon Osbourne, though he admitted he no longer hears from her. Following the death of her husband, Ozzy Osbourne, seven months ago, Slimani added that he would have liked to have reached out, saying he 'absolutely adored' the rock legend.
