Rebecca Ferguson Claims ITV Refused to Investigate Into Her “Traumatic” ‘The X Factor UK’ Experience
Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images Reading Time: 3 minutes
Former The X Factor UK contestant Rebecca Ferguson has publicly claimed that ITV denied investigating her terrible experience. In 2021, the former runner-up accused the UK broadcaster of bullying and manipulating her “away from the cameras.“
Rebecca Ferguson Explains “Traumatic” The X Factor UK Experience
In a Twitter thread, Ferguson uploaded screenshots of her email to ITV CEO Carolyn McCall in 2021. In the letter, the British singer claimed that she experienced and witnessed “terrible foul play” on The X Factor.
According to her, she was forced to sign a management and recording contract at the age of 23. This, as she claimed, has led her to believe she’d be out from the competition in case she disagreed.
“Not only did I not know the management team I was being made to sign to, I had not been given a copy of the terms and conditions of the contract — just purely the signature page,” the letter reads.
Furthermore, Ferguson alleged that she was not given access to independent legal advice or a lawyer. On Wednesday, the singer stated ITV and Ofcom denied her request for investigation regarding her experience.
“I was refused by ITV and OFCOM, no investigation was taken place and my concerns appeared to be fobbed off … I am open to communication should they now wish to follow up with my private complaint now that I have made my complaint public,” she wrote.
ITV Says Welfare of Participants is of “The Highest Priority”
For those who may not know, Ferguson finished in second place on The X Factor UK season seven in 2010. She appeared on the same season that introduced One Direction and Cher Lloyd to the world. During this time, The X Factor was at the peak of its fame to the country’s viewing public. Since her time on the show, she’s been very vocal about poor treatment.
In a press release, ITV defended itself, stating that they are committed to protecting the mental health of their participants. Furthermore, the broadcaster stated that they have continued to evolve and strengthen their approaches and procedures about the matter.
“In our correspondence with Rebecca we stressed that the welfare of participants is of the highest priority at ITV as reflected in our Duty of Care Charter and the detailed guidance, introduced in 2019, we now have available for all producers, to ensure that the welfare of participants is adequately safeguarded on all our programmes,” the statement reads. “ITV responded to Rebecca with information provided to us by the producers, detailing their arrangements regarding welfare, aftercare, legal advice, and management, at the time of her participation.”
Ferguson’s claims come after This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield’s exit from the show. The TV personality left the program upon confessing to an affair with a young runner.
