[supernoodles!]

X Factor's bullying 'wasn't that bad'

Sarah Smith from Same Difference says reaching the X Factor final has helped boost her self confidence after 'terrible' bullying at school.

The 18-year-old burst into tears during last week's semi-final as she and brother Sean sang Never Had a Dream Come True - because it brought back difficult memories.

But schoolmate Lauren Sinclair says although the young singer was targeted, in her opinion Sarah didn't come off too badly.

'A few people called her names and she got hit once,' she says.

Former head teacher Keith Clark insists that the bullying was dealt with as soon as the school found out.

'It was resolved overnight,' he tells the Daily Mail. 'There is no need to appeal for a sympathy vote.'

[Shaun]

Oh, so just because it happened once and was dealt with, that makes it OK then? Stupid people.

[Red Moon]

The article that is referred to in the Daily Mail can be found here:

http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/foru....php?tid=76970

[supernoodles!]

Originally posted by Shaun
Oh, so just because it happened once and was dealt with, that makes it OK then? Stupid people.

I know but is right that they should use this to try and get more votes and sympathy?

[Shaun]

Originally posted by supernoodles!

I know but is right that they should use this to try and get more votes and sympathy?

I don't mind to be honest - everybody uses unfair tactics to try and get more votes. Whether it's the Scottish/Welsh vote, sob stories about bullying, single mums, dead relatives, whatever - it's what all successful X Factor candidates need these days.

[supernoodles!]

hmmm yeah i guess but maybe it would be a fairer competition if they werent allowed to talk about such personal matters

[GiRTh]

I knew it was a cynical stunt. SD had no sob story so they had to make one seem worse that it was. This shows Sarah's crying for what it was. A very sneeky cynical stunt.

[MarkWaldorf]

I'm shocked the headmaster can actually say that. "She got hit once" - what is she approving it now? Being hit is still bullying, as well as any form of abuse.

[Z]

Sarah could be an overly sensitive person. I don't mean that she exaggerated what happened to her, rather that she couldn't cope with it and generally gets upset easily - that happens with people who are "always happy." I wouldn't like to think it was an attempt to get votes, it quite possibly was but I don't think she's the type of person who would do that personally.

[GiRTh]

I'm not so sure. If the Headmaster says it wasn't all that bad I'd tend to believe him. Obviously, the headmaster doesn't want the school to become infamous for being the place where Sarah was bullied but I dont see any reason for him to lie. I thinkl she's played on it.