02 December 2023 , 17:27
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Pop star Rebecca Ferguson has revealed Simon Cowell personally apologised for not stepping in as she was bullied by music industry bosses.
The singer, 37, who found fame on The X Factor in 2010, has campaigned for reality TV stars to be better protected, claiming she was “mentally manipulated, bullied and abused” after the ITV show. She said her life became hell when she fell out with two high-powered figures in the music industry. She said in 2022 her life was controlled as she was medicated, put into bed at night and told who she could date and spend time with.
And while she welcomed Simon’s apology, which came in 2019, Rebecca was disappointed it was not made public. The Heaven singer revealed: “I did have an apology from Simon. He invited me to his home in Holland Park and said he was sorry for the way I had been treated, and he wished he had stepped in sooner to ensure I was looked after.”
Simon Cowell (Variety via Getty Images)Rebecca said she started shaking when he asked her to reveal what she went through. She recalled: “He said, ‘I can tell this is distressing you. These people have been bad to me, too, and I’m sorry I allowed it to happen and sorry I didn’t step in’.
“For a moment, I accepted his apology. He shook my hand and said, ‘We will sort it out.’ I think it was his way of trying to calm the storm. But no one apologised to me publicly. They left a question mark hanging over my head, which I think is wrong.”
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Rebecca added: “There was a level of ownership because ultimately I went on Simon’s show. The contracts I entered into were under his watch. I think he had a responsibility.”
Rebecca Ferguson
Ferguson in 2010 (Ken McKay/Rex Features)Rebecca – who did not sign with Simon’s record company Syco – went on: “I know Lucy Spraggan [who this year revealed she was raped while appearing on The X Factor in 2012] got a public apology – as she should have – but no one was publicly apologising to me.”
The singer – who releases her new album Heaven Part II on Tuesday – added: “I don’t want to be completely negative. I don’t hate Simon. I don’t hate the people who have mistreated me in the industry, maybe they just don’t know better. But I think it is always important to call out bullying and injustice.”
A source said last night: “Simon and his team have always been supportive of Rebecca and acted to help her when there was no professional obligation to do so. Simon has taken more steps to offer support and generosity to artists than most, if not all, of his contemporaries.”