Alexandra Burke Speaks Out - Racism

[GoldHeart]

Utterly disgusting how she's been treated !!

RlFaIOfySvo

[Swan]

I always really liked her, think her X-Factor was the last one watched (dire show that is EXACTLY the same every year, same story, different characters) and it's horrible to think she went through this.

[GoldHeart]

I always really liked her, think her X-Factor was the last one watched (dire show that is EXACTLY the same every year, same story, different characters) and it's horrible to think she went through this.

The hate campaign against her on strictly was vile aswell, I remember how crazy it was .

She didn't have to give names as I already knew who the culprits were.

Dan wooton & Louis Walsh are scumbags and I hope karma hits them both like a train.

[Crimson Dynamo]

The hate campaign against her on strictly was vile aswell, I remember how crazy it was .

She didn't have to give names as I already knew who the culprits were.

Dan wooton & Louis Walsh are scumbags and I hope karma hits them both like a train.

Karma does not exist. It's made up

[Amy Jade]

I dispise Dan Wootton. He is a vile, racist bully who takes great pleasure in hurting others.

[Oliver_W]

Asking someone to bleach their skin is effed up and inexcusable.

Having certain hair and releasing certain music is just part of the industry though. Harry Styles wouldn't have been allowed to shave his hair off, and while 1D were probably allowed or perhaps expected to go gym to keep lean, they wouldn't have been allowed to end up like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson :laugh:

[Smithy]

The title makes it sound like a new single

[Marsh.]

There's already a thread?

[Marsh.]

Asking someone to bleach their skin is effed up and inexcusable.

Having certain hair and releasing certain music is just part of the industry though. Harry Styles wouldn't have been allowed to shave his hair off, and while 1D were probably allowed or perhaps expected to go gym to keep lean, they wouldn't have been allowed to end up like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson :laugh:

You keep bringing up this bollocks comparison of 1D shaving their hair off. It's not the same. She was asked to change her hair, not to have a hairstyle of their choice, but to appear more "white". Don't be stupid.

[Oliver_W]

You keep bringing up this bollocks comparison of 1D shaving their hair off. It's not the same. She was asked to change her hair, not to have a hairstyle of their choice, but to appear more "white". Don't be stupid.

And they weren't allowed to shave their hair so they'd appear more "cute". X Factor stars have to remain generic.

[Marsh.]

And they weren't allowed to shave their hair so they'd appear more "cute". X Factor stars have to remain generic.

"Appearing cute" is not the same as them wanting to "white up" a black woman. We're not talking them "sexing" her up, but trying to play down her blackness. It's racist and people like you making stupid comparisons to play it down does not help it.

[Oliver_W]

"Appearing cute" is not the same as them wanting to "white up" a black woman. We're not talking them "sexing" her up, but trying to play down her blackness. It's racist and people like you making stupid comparisons to play it down does not help it.

"Less black" and "more white" aren't the same. Bloated mainstream labels like SyCo don't want their acts to be described as too anything. Can you think of any adjectives to describe Ben Haenow? :laugh:

The MCU does very well by making the same movie over and over. None of them are too scary/funny/sad/romantic/dramatic/boring. They're all decent and exciting, and cookie cutter. Similarly, X Factor stars are virtually interchangeable :laugh: and that's how they both like it!

[arista]

Yes at 16 a record label
already had one black singer ,
so he could not give her a Job.

Yes Smile More helps,
you can not go back loads of years
and Nit pick dodgy management.


Yes losing your mother
at the time of a BBC gig
is hard.


The Press Man said you being a Diva
then.
He had No Knowledge that your Mother died.



No you are a Great Singer
Can you have a proper band
Drummer
Guitarist
Funk bass player
Piano player.


Also Name the Journalist

[The Slim Reaper]

Yes at 16 a record label
already had one black singer ,
so he could not give her a Job.

Yes Smile More helps,
you can not go back loads of years
and Nit pick dodgy management.


Yes losing your mother
at the time of a BBC gig
is hard.


The Press Man said you being a Diva
then.
He had No Knowledge that your Mother died.



No you are a Great Singer
Can you have a proper band
Drummer
Guitarist
Funk bass player
Piano player.


Also Name the Journalist

A Perfect summation for anyone late to the thread.

[Marsh.]

"Less black" and "more white" aren't the same. Bloated mainstream labels like SyCo don't want their acts to be described as too anything. Can you think of any adjectives to describe Ben Haenow? :laugh:

The MCU does very well by making the same movie over and over. None of them are too scary/funny/sad/romantic/dramatic/boring. They're all decent and exciting, and cookie cutter. Similarly, X Factor stars are virtually interchangeable :laugh: and that's how they both like it!

Yes, asking a black girl to bleach her skin isn't racism, it's like making a popcorn movie.

God, you talk sh*te.

[arista]

[Utterly disgusting how she's been treated !!]


It was years ago ,she is telling us about.

We need her to do a Song
not a Moan.

[arista]

A Perfect summation for anyone late to the thread.


I am not late to the thread

15mins had to watch FIRST
during a break.

[The Slim Reaper]

[Utterly disgusting how she's been treated !!]


It was years ago ,she is telling us about.

We need her to do a Song
not a Moan.

Exactly. She needs to shut up and sing. When will these minstrels learn their place?

[The Slim Reaper]

I am not late to the thread

15mins had to watch FIRST
during a break.

I meant anyone coming in late could read your post and get a grasp of the whole thread, not that you were late.

[Livia]

I remember them telling Kym Marsh that she needed to lose weight. And she clearly didn't. Show business is ruthless.

[Marsh.]

Nothing like a bit of whataboutery to downplay racism.

[Oliver_W]

Yes, asking a black girl to bleach her skin isn't racism, it's like making a popcorn movie.

God, you talk sh*te.

I already said the skin bleaching thing was disgusting.

But moaning about not being allowed certain hair or certain music? Rules like that are fine, and comparable to popcorn movies.

[Marsh.]

I already said the skin bleaching thing was disgusting.

But moaning about not being allowed certain hair or certain music? Rules like that are fine, and comparable to popcorn movies.

Except when the reason she's not allowed her hair a certain way is.... because it highlights the fact she's black.

We're not talking about her being given songs to sing, but being "whited up".

[Tom4784]

Yeah, you can't really undersell this, she was essentially told to be less 'black'.

[arista]

Yeah, you can't really undersell this, she was essentially told to be less 'black'.


Sure
But she is Great Singer


Give us a new track


Leave all that hassle
behind her


Move On Up

[Tom4784]

Sure
But she is Great Singer


Give us a new track


Leave all that hassle
behind her


Move On Up

'Be quiet about the racism you experienced and release new music!'

Grim.

[Marsh.]

So, you're telling Alexandra Burke to shut up about racism and perform?

[Liam-]

She can talk about her experiences with racism as much as she wants, we do want new music though

[sleleen]

90% of the people in this thread need to educate themselves

[arista]

'Be quiet about the racism you experienced and release new music!'

Grim.


No Go on about it
but lose music buyers

[Crimson Dynamo]

Beyonce bleaces her skin and dyes her hair brown and she has done ok?

[Amy Jade]

And they weren't allowed to shave their hair so they'd appear more "cute". X Factor stars have to remain generic.

They were allowed to change their hair. Liam and Zayn shaved their heads at one point.

By change her hair Alexandra means she was advised against afro or dreads one would assume.

[Niamh.]

Beyonce bleaces her skin and dyes her hair brown and she has done ok?

I don't get the point you're making, that she only does OK because she does those things or what? If so then that's pretty racist

[Ammi]

...I recall CeeCee..(IthinkIloveyoutoo..)...making some really enlightening posts about this and providing some great links to read and vids to watch...the things she experienced as a young black female..?...really awful, some stuff and some things I just hadn't realised at all...when would it ever be said to an artist with white skin colour....oh well, I already have one white artist so...../...it’s undoubtedly prejudice, the things she’s referred to and experienced ...and it should never be excused as anything else...

[GoldHeart]

They were allowed to change their hair. Liam and Zayn shaved their heads at one point.

By change her hair Alexandra means she was advised against afro or dreads one would assume.

Yeah Alexandra specifically said they didn't want her wearing braids or an afro, if people listen carefully they even gave her a hard time over baby hairs showing as it makes her look "aggressive" .

Everyone has baby hairs so once again it just shows how racist and absurd they were to her.

[Oliver_W]

They were allowed to change their hair. Liam and Zayn shaved their heads at one point.

By change her hair Alexandra means she was advised against afro or dreads one would assume.

Oh I didn't know Liam and Zayn had done that :shrug: Harry's "the one with the hair" so I wonder if he'd have been allowed?

And they would certainly be advised against mohawks or face piercings :laugh: some "looks" just aren't what a label wants.

[The Slim Reaper]

Oh I didn't know Liam and Zayn had done that :shrug: Harry's "the one with the hair" so I wonder if he'd have been allowed?

And they would certainly be advised against mohawks or face piercings :laugh: some "looks" just aren't what a label wants.

https://media1.tenor.com/images/c924b622b71a51d0c4aa21760c69b9f3/tenor.gif?itemid=9264828

[GoldHeart]

Yeah, you can't really undersell this, she was essentially told to be less 'black'.

The sad thing is quite a few black singers have experienced this discrimination in the music industry.

Have you seen the Misha B video?, back in XF in 2011 the producers and the judges used her as Scape goat for ratings and drama .

They portrayed her as the bully and they used the B in her name to play that up . It was all planned to make her look bad . Tulisa & Louis instigated crap .

[Crimson Dynamo]

I don't get the point you're making, that she only does OK because she does those things or what? If so then that's pretty racist

I'm saying it happens all the time,most black women artists realise the audience cis mostly white and change to be popular and make the Dollar

Tina, Whitney etc. Just part of the industry. Her issue Vis she just isn't likeabke or savvy so is blaming

The fault is her not racism

[Moniqua]

what. Is. Wrong. With. You. People.

[user104658]

Was she told outright NOT to have certain hairstyles or they wouldn't release her music, or was she advised against it on the basis that it would probably affect sales?

Both are rooted in racism, of course, but of a different branch. If it was the former it's the management being straight up racist. If its the latter and was management advice based on market trends, the real problem of course is racially-charged consumer expectations and management aren't really at fault for giving that advice if it's factual.

I guess the difference is between if they said "You can't have your hair like that", and if they said "you can have your hair how you want, but you'll sell fewer records".

Both are sad, sad situations though.

[Niamh.]

I'm saying it happens all the time,most black women artists realise the audience cis mostly white and change to be popular and make the Dollar



Tina, Whitney etc. Just part of the industry. Her issue Vis she just isn't likeabke or savvy so is blaming



The fault is her not racismWhy would you think most of her audience is white and even if she has got a lot of white fans, why on earth would they want her to appear "more white"?

[rusticgal]

It’s a shame she didn’t expose this back at the time. It would have had more of an impact.

[Ammi]

Was she told outright NOT to have certain hairstyles or they wouldn't release her music, or was she advised against it on the basis that it would probably affect sales?

Both are rooted in racism, of course, but of a different branch. If it was the former it's the management being straight up racist. If its the latter and was management advice based on market trends, the real problem of course is racially-charged consumer expectations and management aren't really at fault for giving that advice if it's factual.

I guess the difference is between if they said "You can't have your hair like that", and if they said "you can have your hair how you want, but you'll sell fewer records".

Both are sad, sad situations though.


...I think her actual wording was ...’..you can’t have braiding/Afro’ etc...’..you have to have hair that is more appealing to white people...’...

[Crimson Dynamo]

Why would you think most of her audience is white and even if she has got a lot of white fans, why on earth would they want her to appear "more white"?

The UK is 90 % white. It works of all the female black stars would not do it. She was just given commercial advice really.

[Crimson Dynamo]

https://theconversation.com/black-americas-bleaching-syndrome-82200

Here is an article about it in the USA

[GoldHeart]

It’s a shame she didn’t expose this back at the time. It would have had more of an impact.

Rustic she was scared and is still worried about speaking out , there's other celebrities who have spoken out now like Keisha from sugababes , Misha B , and Leigh from little mix .

[Jordan.]

I'm saying it happens all the time,most black women artists realise the audience cis mostly white and change to be popular and make the Dollar

Tina, Whitney etc. Just part of the industry. Her issue Vis she just isn't likeabke or savvy so is blaming

The fault is her not racism

"It's not racism, all black females have to change themselves for whites to like them"

[Beso]

She should have stayed with Barry B instead of hunting the quick dollar when she was head hunted for xfactor

[rusticgal]

Rustic she was scared and is still worried about speaking out , there's other celebrities who have spoken out now like Keisha from sugababes , Misha B , and Leigh from little mix .


I can only comment on Leigh from Little Mix and wasn’t that more about social media bullying. Why would you be scared to report blatent racism...or was she more scared of jeopardising her career :shrug:...

[Liam-]

I can only comment on Leigh from Little Mix and wasn’t that more about social media bullying. Why would you be scared to report blatent racism...or was she more scared of jeopardising her career :shrug:...

She was scared she’d be seen as a ‘troublemaker’ if she spoke out about it, which is what happens when black people speak out

[Beso]

She was scared she’d be seen as a ‘troublemaker’ if she spoke out about it, which is what happens when black people speak out

And Shaun Ryder.

[Crimson Dynamo]

"It's not racism, all black females have to change themselves for whites to like them"

I'm sure it would be the same if the numbers were reversed, if the population was 90% black. Money talks at the end of the day

[GoldHeart]

I can only comment on Leigh from Little Mix and wasn’t that more about social media bullying. Why would you be scared to report blatent racism...or was she more scared of jeopardising her career :shrug:...

:facepalm: She couldn't win either way, even when she was on strictly she knew if she was happy they'd say she doesn't care about her mother's death , if she showed emotions then they say she's looking for sympathy.

I don't think anyone will understand the immense pressure of being in these situations.

[rusticgal]

She was scared she’d be seen as a ‘troublemaker’ if she spoke out about it, which is what happens when black people speak out

Personally I would rather be seen as a troublemaker and stand up for what is right and what I believe in....but we are all different.

[Cherie]

It’s a shame she didn’t expose this back at the time. It would have had more of an impact.

.

[GoldHeart]

Personally I would rather be seen as a troublemaker and stand up for what is right and what I believe in....but we are all different.

Oh really ?? Well what about abuse victims that only spoke out when the #metoo movement came about.

Unless you've been in Alexandra's shoes then you can't really judge .

[Ammi]

...her voice breaks with a lot of emotion when she says that she’s so annoyed with herself for allowing some of the things to be said...but she was only 19yrs old when she was rejected because she was black...it’s heartbreaking because a victim so often a sense of blame for something that she is entirely not at Any fault ...

[Marsh.]

I'm sure it would be the same if the numbers were reversed, if the population was 90% black. Money talks at the end of the day

"If white people were the oppressed minority it would be the same" is not a defence of racism.

[rusticgal]

Oh really ?? Well what about abuse victims that only spoke out when the #metoo movement came about.

Unless you've been in Alexandra's shoes then you can't really judge .


You don’t know anything about me....my husband has been there...spoke up and ultimately lost out on a career...a big career... So I can ****ing judge thank you.
Always admired him for it and he always knew he did the right thing and reported it at the time...because when something isn’t right...it isn’t right so you need to stand up for yourself and do the right thing.

[GoldHeart]

You don’t know anything about me....my husband has been there...spoke up and ultimately lost out on a career...a big career... So I can ****ing judge thank you.
Always admired him for it and he always knew he did the right thing and reported it at the time...because when something isn’t right...it isn’t right so you need to stand up for yourself and do the right thing.

Because it's always that simple to "do the right thing" ? as you put it :rolleyes: . I don't know what your husband's situation was , but things AREN'T always that straight forward , she was trying to make a successful music career and probably felt her hands were tied and that she wouldn't get the support.

Alexandra was only 19 when she was on xf and she was under alot of pressure. She was clearly too worried to say anything at the time , as i said already this has now encouraged other people to come forward .

She's not alone and other's have experienced similar things , and they probably felt they couldn't do anything about it .

[arista]

There's already a thread?


Post it
please.

[GoldHeart]

Post it
please.

It's in the XF category , but i didn't realise at the time when i made this thread.

[arista]

It's in the XF category , but i didn't realise at the time when i made this thread.

OK fair enough

[rusticgal]

Because it's always that simple to "do the right thing" ? as you put it :rolleyes: . I don't know what your husband's situation was , but things AREN'T always that straight forward , she was trying to make a successful music career and probably felt her hands were tied and that she wouldn't get the support.

Alexandra was only 19 when she was on xf and she was under alot of pressure. She was clearly too worried to say anything at the time , as i said already this has now encouraged other people to come forward .

She's not alone and other's have experienced similar things , and they probably felt they couldn't do anything about it .

No you don’t know the details...but I can assure you his abuse was far worse and he was 4 years younger than Alexandra Burke.
Her hands were not tied...she decided that fame and fortune meant more to her. That may sound harsh. She’s had her fame and fortune...something my husband sacrificed for speaking up and doing what was right...she should have spoken up when she won it and she could have made a huge impact...but she rolled with the fame and put it to one side...until now. :shrug:

[GoldHeart]

No you don’t know the details...but I can assure you his abuse was far worse and he was 4 years younger than Alexandra Burke.
Her hands were not tied...she decided that fame and fortune meant more to her. That may sound harsh. She’s had her fame and fortune...something my husband sacrificed for speaking up and doing what was right...she should have spoken up when she won it and she could have made a huge impact...but she rolled with the fame and put it to one side...until now. :shrug:

I wish you'd stop making out it was that easy for her to speak out :rolleyes: , she was in the public eye and under pressure to do well.

As i said what about victims of abuse / assault who take years to come forward?? as they were too scared and bullied ? .

Try watching these videos and see if you get a better understanding :idc:

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