[Jack_]

So it was supposedly another ‘lucky escape’ for Katie Waissel for Sunday, as she escaped the boot from The X Factor for the 14,364th time this series.

But how exactly was it a lucky escape? The following days have seen yet another barrage of disgusting insults thrown at her with feverish glee and no little let-up.

If confused visitors from another galaxy were to wonder aloud why she is being forced to suffer so, how would we explain? Well, it seems that Katie’s somehow brought it on herself by shamelessly wanting to be successful (the cheek!), having talent and also believing in herself (the nerve!), and possessing a confidence that has been deemed ‘unbecoming’ (the witch!). Strange, isn’t it, that it only seems to be ladies who are disallowed from publicly flaunting such self-assurance, as it seems absolutely fine for male rapper after male rapper to boast about how their very presence on earth is proof of God’s existence, so miraculous are their skills.

It wasn’t her fault that she was chosen to be among the final contestants for this series of The X Factor, picked over media-appointed charity case Gamu. She merely did what she had to, and from then on it was Cheryl Cole’s choice. However, it seems that she’s still a bit too loved by the public to face a full backlash.

So instead it was time to focus a nation’s fury on a relative unknown. And if there’s anything that shows off how cretinous we as a nation are, it’s how young women such as Katie are treated when the morons at large get wind of a free-for-all, finding somebody naïve enough to expose their dreams for a primetime audience to pick apart.

Thus plenty of people who should know far better feel absolutely no shame in insinuating that Katie’s a slut, as though even such sexual proclivities would be relevant as to whether or not she can actually sing. There’s absolutely no proof beyond some dodgy tabloid claims, but that’s still more than enough evidence to make her out as some sort of scarlet woman. How lovely.

Then – oh, and then! – there’s all the bile about her appearance. Let’s get this right: we’re taught over and over again that it’s not all right to make fun of someone’s appearance, with anti-bullying campaigns galore endorsed by completely suitable role models such as N-Dubz, but it’s open season when faced with someone we don’t like? I must have missed the second part of that lesson on morality, otherwise what we currently have on our hands is a load of slavering half-wits who think it’s okay to make slurs against a 24-year-old in public forums that she and her friends and family are bound to read, and which the person in question can do nothing about – for if they had the temerity to complain they’d only be making it worse for themselves. It’s beyond cruel. It’s also bullying of the most despicable form, ganging up against someone who’s completely defenceless.

She’s not the first though, oh no. Personally, I never found Heather Mills to be particularly likable. Given that I don’t actually know her though, it seemed only fair to withhold judgement. Though I can say with absolute certainty is that I far preferred her to the vile idiots – which on that occasion unfortunately included Jonathan Ross – who thought it okay to make jokes about her disability, just because they thought she was a gold-digger.

I can never imagine the bravery that it would take to carry on after losing a leg – the rehabilitation, the regrets, the fears, the indignities. However, I can pretty much must up the same sort of fury that I’d acquire were that luvvable wuvvable ‘Wossy’ taking the piss, not by some sort reasoned argument about her divorce from Sir Macca, but instead by poking fun at the horrendous result of a tragic accident. Mind you, this sort of treatment has also fairly recently been doled out to Jade Goody when she first appeared on Big Brother and “Dr” Gillian McKeith on the current series of I’m A Celebrity, among many, many others. (Actually, is it just something to do with long-haired blondes? Maybe if Katie goes brunette and opts for a bob she’ll be flying to the top of the charts come Christmas-time.)

As though it wasn’t bad enough, this all comes at a time when Ann Widdecombe, a woman with hateful views and a disgusting voting record as an MP, somehow gets away with it all by dancing ineptly on Strictly Come Dancing, thus ensuring that in a week of two she’ll be officially hailed as a ‘national treasure’. (Perhaps it’s funny, though for some reason my mouth’s adopted a sneer rather than a smile.) Katie’s never done anything to us, yet somehow Ann prospers despite her active support – while in a position of power – for the sorts of laws which harangued homosexuals and her own sex.

To put it plainly: currently children in Britain watching TV on a Saturday night are learning the invaluable lesson that it’s better to be a nasty, empty-hearted buffoon than a talented, ambitious individual. Because if you’re the latter, it’ll be fine for others to do whatever they wish to unsettle, unseat and unnerve you, before throwing you to the other wolves so they can have their share. Shame on us all. If there's any justice Katie should go on to win The X Factor, it's the least she deserves after being able to withstand such abhorrent behaviour with a quiet dignity.

http://entertainment.stv.tv/opinion/...-the-x-factor/

Never a truer word spoken.

[Tom]

Without a shadow of a doubt, the root cause of the Katie hate is that she was picked over Gamu and pitched directly against her in the judges houses editing

[Mystic Mock]

im not reading all that,but the parts i read were bull**** as me and others have tried to judge katie on her singing and shes average at best.

[MTVN]

Great article, completely agree with it

[Novo]

Michael MacLennan

What a great guy

[ElProximo]

It seems to me its a reader writing an opinion on a blog?

The main problem is that Katie is not a very good singer. She is, at best, very average and not a whole lot of charisma. It is not a case where she can keep improving. This is it with her.

So this isn't really a good question or nearly as 'competitive' as the blog opinion contributor wants to believe. Sorry.

[Dr.Gonzo]

Holy sh**. You've got a new mask, you kinky bastard.

[joeysteele]

I don't like Katie not for anything that's been in the papers, I was completely unimpressed with her antics at Cheryl's house, I have really liked none of her performances on X Factor except the Jungle Book one, I see nothing original in her.

Also her forgetting the words in a vital sing off is the most unprofessional thing I have seen on X Factor, I know of no other act ever, to forget the lyrics in a sing off or any act ever to have been regularly placed in the last 2 or 3 by the voting public for 4 weeks out of 6.

Her voice is not that strong, and she at best gives an average performance of the songs she does. She will never win X Factor or any competition in a million years because she simply isn't good enough and little of her unpopularity is due to press coverage,most of the people I know who don't like her have hardly read all or much that's printed about her anyway.

[ElProximo]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Her voice is not that strong, and she at best gives an average performance of the songs she does.

Yep, at her very best she is a mediocre voice and performer and we have seen the best she can do.

[King Gizzard]

Good luck if she won - turning votes into record sales she'll flop more than Nadine

[GypsyGoth]

I like that he/she is sticking up for Katie. I hope more of the media get behind her before it's too late.

[Zippy]

Katie can hang on maybe a couple more weeks at the very best. Not sure it will make much difference to her career tbh.

Unless she releases something mindblowing I really can't see her as a chart success. Its hard enough even if you win....but finishing down the pack and having very bad publicity? almost impossible I would think.

XF may do her more harm than good in a musical sense. Oh well, least she has the fame aspect. For now.

[ElProximo]

Originally Posted by Dr.Gonzo

Holy sh**. You've got a new mask, you kinky bastard.

wth? There is nothing 'kinky' about luche libre OR chinese kabuki

[Dr.Gonzo]

Originally Posted by ElProximo

wth? There is nothing 'kinky' about luche libre OR chinese kabuki

You're not using it right.

[ElProximo]

Originally Posted by Dr.Gonzo

You're not using it right.

Nah, 'Kink' is for people who can't do it well the proper way.

[Dr.Gonzo]

Originally Posted by ElProximo

Nah, 'Kink' is for people who can't do it well the proper way.

Quite no need for that.

[stewart64]

Originally Posted by Jack_

http://entertainment.stv.tv/opinion/...-the-x-factor/

Never a truer word spoken.

Essential reading before you cast your vote tonight. Keep the lovely Katie in, make your vote count.

[Smithy]

shame coz n1curr

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Smithy

shame coz n1curr

I'm aware of that. Britons always need someone in the public eye to bully for no apparent reason. I wouldn't expect any of them to stop