[Red Moon]

'Witch hunt' upset departing Rachel

"People are hating me because of the life I used to live".

In tears at some points in the interview, Rachel Hylton says she felt the odds were always stacked against her in The X Factor competition.

And she has spoken out about "A blatant witch hunt to get me off that show. I'm not happy".

Rachel has made no secret about her troubled past, which included problems with drugs and spells in prison.

But the 26 year-old mum-of-five reckons that her attempts to turn her life around have been thwarted by what she reckons amounts to a newspaper hate campaign.

"Every week there was a story in the paper. Every Saturday, there was something bad about either Dannii or me. They were trying to turn people against me".

"I've kept quiet about this for so long, but I'm really, really upset. I am opening my mouth now because I haven't done anything wrong".

In the past few weeks, newspapers have carried stories about a pending trial involving Rachel's brother, former victims of her crimes, and negative stories sold by people she knew. She's also been accused of making gang gestures on the show.

She told us, "I am not happy about the life I used to live. I am not proud of it. But that's not who I am anymore".

"I told everyone my history right away on my show. I didn't have to say it. I could've waited for you to find out - but I wanted people to be able to trust me. I'm not here to lie. I came here to do the thing I love, I just came to sing."

"By week four or five the press started hounding me, printing this, printing that".

Rachel felt she was in a no-win situation. She said of the press, "What did you want me to do? Continue the path to destruction and lose my other two children"?

"Is that what people wanted for me? It seems I can't do right for doing wrong".

"I know I've made mistakes but I hoped people would allow me to pick myself up and make the most of this chance".

"Don't I have the right, just like anybody else walking this planet, to try to better myself"?

And very upset, she explained quietly, "I know I've made mistakes and I know those mistakes have been very detrimental, especially to my first three children [who are in care]".

"I hold my hands up to all of that. I know having five children at 26 isn't good".

"But anyone who thinks I don't care about them or think about them is absolutely wrong".

"I'd say to the people who write those things, 'You've hurt me, you've hurt my family. You've hurt my kids. Now people out there think I don't think about my kids who are not with me. That is absolutely not true".

And she said, "My biggest hurt from it all is knowing that my eldest son Tristan was watching the TV, and reading all that stuff in the papers about me".

"I am deeply saddened by that".

Source: ITV

[rayheartbliss]

its kinda true!

and its not fair i think! she was trying to change!

[ParentalAdvisory]

What goes around comes around Rachel. For all the wrong she's done in her life, now it's come around and bit her on the arse.

I have no sympathy.

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by ParentalAdvisory
What goes around comes around Rachel. For all the wrong she's done in her life, now it's come around and bit her on the ****.

I have no sympathy.

Are people not allowed a second chance?

It's not her former lifestyle that has alienated me it's more her appalling attitude toward the contest. She has not embraced the contest or put the maximum amount of effort in each week. She acts like she knows more than people who have been in the music industry for decades. She does not change her vocal style for different songs, when things go wrong she blames others and she stated she's sick of people telling her what to do. I'm surprised she passed the audition process because her attitude rendered her completely unsuitable for the contest.

[ParentalAdvisory]

She stunts around acting like life owes her a living. She does deserve a second chance if she's prepared to work for it. She's proven throughout the contest that she has no intention of working for it. She wants it to be given to her on a plate. Her shitty attitude is the reason for her exit. It's as simple as that. There was no witch hunt. She's just not a likeable person.

[rayheartbliss]

Originally posted by ParentalAdvisory

I have no sympathy.

i dont think sympathy was what she was asking for
a chance more like

[ParentalAdvisory]

She had a chance. She ****ed it up.

[rayheartbliss]

hmm....she had anger issues which made it hard for her to work with the judges.....i dont like her attitude at all....but for what shes trying to do is a good thing...because she want change......

but shes did seem happy enough when she left
puts shines of hope in her life

[ParentalAdvisory]

There's a difference between "wanting to change" and "actually changing". If she really wants to change, then she's the only one who can do it. She first has to accept responsibility for her own departure, instead of slating people on the radio and trying to blame others for it.

[rayheartbliss]

there is a massive diffrence between wanting to change to actually changing clearly
but this isnt a small thing...one person alone cant do it.

[ParentalAdvisory]

One person can do it though. One person has to do it. It's an addiction issue in the first instance, and it's down to the addict to change. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience. There can be the biggest support network in the world, but if the addict doesn't choose to change, then she won't.

[rayheartbliss]

i wasnt talking about the whole drugs thing
lol shes gone over that!
i was talking about her wanting to change her life!

and for the drug addiction, you do need help at some things maybe not something that will help a complete change but some support!

but yerh i do agree with you its a person's choice!
but there are people who DO want change! and they may just be lost!
and the help they need is to realize that!
its the same for rachel trying to change her life but she does need support!

[30stone]

I think a lot of people were voting because of how shes trying to change but i hate this its bollocks because she could have been as nice as you like before she come on x factor and would have never won due to awful attitude toward her mentor n simon. and her lack of vocal ability.

[rayheartbliss]

Originally posted by 30stone
and her lack of vocal ability.

hmmm...i cant seem to agree with that! :P
lol

but i understand why you might not like her!

[30stone]

Originally posted by rayheartbliss

hmmm...i cant seem to agree with that! :P
lol

but i understand why you might not like her!

well i thought everytime she sang she was completely off key and let how she talks come into her singing... which made it sound worse than a cat fight.

i wouldnt hate her just cause of her attitude no matter how bad or pathetic it was.

[rayheartbliss]

wouldnt agree with that!
but you have your opinions!