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Senior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 17,871
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X Factor 2013: Tamera Foster I'maCeleb2013: Matthew Wright
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 17,871
Favourites (more):
X Factor 2013: Tamera Foster I'maCeleb2013: Matthew Wright
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Text version of the the interview for anyone that's finding Damon's scans hard to read (sorry Damon  )
Quote:
After the racism and bullying scandals of recent series, we'd hoped this year's series of Big Brother would be all about good, clean fun. But, in Alexandra de Gale, we were confronted with the biggest Reality TV villain yet. It defies belief that someone would so casually threaten violence, knowing that they were being filmed - and that was after she'd recieved warnings about her intimidating behaviour. Just 16 hours after Alex's removal from the house, heat was given the chance to talk to her about it.
When we meet 23-year-old Alex, she looks drained and exhausted from the events of the past 24 hours. But why, after seeing the media backlash over the careless remarks of Jade Goody and BB8's Emily, didn't she know better? heat is the only publication Alex is speaking to after being kicked out. She's been told it won't be easy, and that she should expect rough questioning. Having seen what's been written about her, we'd have thought Alex would be more upset and remorseful. But astonishingly, she's none of the above. Instead, she doesn't seem to think she has done anything wrong.
Was BB right to remove you?
Yes and no. I don't feel I threatened anyone, but I think it was for the best. Seeing what's been written about me, I don't know whether I'd have been strong enough to come out to boos. But I don't agree with Big Brother's reasons for removing me. I was misinterpreted and misunderstood.
But you have been aggressive...
When? Which part?
Well, lets take the incident for which you were removed [Alex told her housemates that "personal offence is never forgotten" and that she had a "very strong team outside" and "gangster friends" with "instructions to follow out"]...
OK, my strong team is my friends and family - and it's them who were under instruction, to campaign on my behalf. I was talking to Darnell and Dale and said "personal offence is never forgotten", meaning that Rex is trying to plan a major launch party for his restaurant. He was going on about how we all have to go there for a publicity stunt, but personal offence is never forgotten, so I wouldn't go.
So why say you have "gangsta friends" then?
Gangsta's a term we use where I come from, to say someone is on your wavelength. I don't mean like gangsta with a gun. It's just an expression.
But when you threatened to confront other housemates' families and said "Pow, pow, pow," it sounded very intimidating.
I'm surprised that's the only "Pow" you heard me say - I said it all the way through the show. I was devastated that they picked up on that, because I had used that expression before and Big Brother had no issue with it.
Lets talk about Chipgate. Why did you react so strongly towards Bex and Rachel over the burnt chips?
I'm a strong character, not a bully or aggressive. I am very sensitive about people putting me down and it wasn't the first time Rachel had said something to me, so I was on the defensive. But me being scary? I don't see that. That's just me with a hot head on. I would never hurt anyone. I'm not that kind of person. But I am very loud and very vocal about my feelings.
Did you not think back to what happened with previous loud, opinionated contestants?
Not really. I didn't imagine coming out to see this reaction. I am genuinely a nice person. I have been compassionate to people in the house too. There are 24 hours in a day and they are going to show the most exciting parts in the 47-minute show, and I suppose me being the person a lot of people confided in isn't as interesting as watching me have a fight about chips.
But when you saw Rachel crying, did that mean nothing to you?
No. Why was she crying? She was just playing on it. This is a grown woman who teaches kids, for God's sake. I was telling her more or less to shut up and she's crying, and that's more pathetic than anything. But her being upset did make me realise that some people aren't used to being spoken to like that. But I didn't go on Big Brother to be something that I'm not. Maybe it's because I come from a bad place where people communicate with each other like that if we're pissed off. It's not like I was out of my seat and in her face. Some people have sheltered lives, and in a way I do envy that.
Do you like to scare people?
No, not at all. I was telling them my opinion and I supposed the way I spoke to them was defensive. But to say they felt scared is an easy card to use. If that was the case, I would have been instantly removed.
But you were called in after that and given a formal warning by Big Brother...
I thought, "You're being over the top. You're dramatising the scenario." As far as I was concerned, I'd had an argument - nothing more, nothing less.
Do you have any regrets over your argument with Mohamed?
No. I lost respect for Mohamed when he dressed up in a skirt and had a face covered in make-up. As a Muslim, he's let us down.
Drinking and smoking is frowned upon too, but you did both...
We both took the piss by drinking and smoking - he took it to the next level, though.
How did you feel when you were removed from the house?
Surprised. I was annoyed anyway because I was up for eviction, but I felt betrayed.
How do you feel being the most hated woman in the country?
I haven't grasped the full extent of it, but what worries me most is my daughter. It's only a gameshow. The press will always print the most sellable story. It hasn't been on the front pages that Rachel is such a nice girl, has it? It's not front page news. I'm a Marmite type of character - you either love me or you hate me. But being a number-one target is quite dramatic. It surprises me that after just 13 days on TV, people have come to this conclusion about me.
Are you surprised?
Yes and no, but I don't think someone is going to kill me, although I've had death threats. It's all new, so it's hard to gauge.
Do you think that once this has sunk in, you'll be more upset?
I'm not in a position to let something like this destroy me. I'm a single mum. I am a strong person and as much as it could be upsetting - which it is - I am too strong to let it break me or ruin me or get me down.
Aren't you worried about how your daughter will feel about all of this?
It's not a children's programme, it's an adult's show. I was in a house full of adults, and if they were pissing me off, I'd turn round and say, "You're pissing me off." What's the big deal about that? That's not how I behave around my daughter.
Do you feel like you've put her safety in danger?
No. I'm out now and I would never let anything happen to her. There are nutters out there and I'm not underestimating anyone, but the safest place for her is around me.
She might be embarrassed in the future though...
No, I don't think so. She has watched me grow up while I've watched her grow up. I had her at 16. There's not much that can destroy her opinion of me. I'm her hero.
But wasn't your car vandalised while you were in the house?
I worked hard for my possessions and I do feel violated by that.
So do you have some feelings about being hated?
It's not the nicest feeling to be hated, but I've never met these people and I'll deal with it.
What have your family said since you came out of the house?
They think I harped on a lot - I possibly have a tendency to rant and rave, but that's something I would look to improve. My mum said she loved me.
Do you think you need counselling for your anger?
No. I'm not angry. I'm not sorry for who I am. Possibly I could find a better way of getting my point across. Age and experience will teach me that.
What about the future?
I will take each day as it comes. I want to get back into the swing of being a mother. I'm not gonna die.
What would you say to heat readers who were angered by your behaviour in the house?
Concentrate on the bigger picture. It's just a 47-minute show, after all.
So that's that. Not the remorseful interview we had expected or hoped for. Clearly this is a woman whose experience of life has made her hard, and it's obvious she would defend herself to the end. Despite our tough questioning, which gave her an opportunity to show a conscience, Alex just can't go there. She really believes she did nothing to be ashamed of, and she remains confident she wasn't guilty of any wrongdoing during her controversial 13 days inside the Big Brother house. We can't say we like her any more as a result of our interview - she's exactly the same as she was on the show. So if there's one thing going for her, at least she's consistent.
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Alex asked for no fee for this interview and has instead asked heat to make a donation to www.sicklecellsociety.org
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24-06-2008, 07:23 PM
Linear Mode
