‘The Glee Project’ Exit Q&A: Ellis talks about tension with her fellow castmates

Oxygen’s The Glee Project said goodbye to its second contestant last night, the youthful-looking Ellis Wylie. The 19 year-old from Grayslake, Ill. was sent home after performing in the bottom three with Matheus and McKynleigh. “It was weird to watch it and to see how things got edited and how things work out because we have to cram so much into one show,” Ellis tells EW. “It was weird to watch yourself leave! But it was overall just a great experience and loads and loads of fun.” EW talked with Ellis about fighting with fellow contestant, Lindsay, and what’s next for her.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: The judges seemed to think your attitude wouldn’t change and you would still be negative. What did you think of that? Did you think you’d be able to change?
ELLIS WYLIE: Well yeah, because I’m mostly not like that on a regular basis at all. I was really upset the first week. I was very depressed because my voice was down and I was sick. Part of my negativity is that I apologize a lot and that was something I think was getting on people’s nerves. So I think they really saw that. It’s unfortunate that I had this sad thing going for me. I didn’t really realize it but I was just in such a stressful position. I’m really not like that all the time. I understand where they’re coming from. 

Do you think you played too much on how young you look?
No, I don’t think so. I only made a few comments about it and it somehow all ended up on the show. I really think that was one of my strengths and I did like to play a little bit off of that. I think maybe it just got confusing at some point.

This episode showed tension between you and Lindsay. Do you think she was trying to help you? Or sabotage you?
I don’t really know. I think she actually may have wanted to help me and I think they all did. I think they maybe didn’t go about it the right way. I think subconsciously they saw that I was very vulnerable and I wasn’t going to stand up to them and I was gonna take their suggestions and their critques and try to change. I think really subconsciously they needed someone — I mean it made them feel secure. It was a way they could look at someone and see if I was in a bad place they could make it better by how they’re doing. It was just a really stressful situation and I don’t blame them or Lindsay for anything.

Did you make good friends from this experience?
Yeah. It was just the tension especially those first few weeks. But we’re pals.

Have you made up with Lindsay?
Oh yeah. We’re pals. It’s all good. Watching the show, it’s great because this is a while ago for all of us to watch again so people keep coming up and saying, “Oh my God. Are you so mad at Lindsay?” and I’m like “No actually she was the first one to call me last night and go ‘Hey.’”

What’s next for you?
I’m going to Columbia College [in Ill.] in the fall. I’m a vocal performance major and just working on getting some songs ready right now for a demo CD and some videos to put on YouTube and just trying to get myself out there.

Read more:
‘Glee’ scoop: Ryan Murphy says he’s planning for the show’s characters to graduate this season
‘The Glee Project’ Exit Q&A: Bryce talks about being the first contestant to leave
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