Entertainment
X Factor’s Katie Waissel speaks out about treatment on series that ‘left her with PTSD and feeling suicidal’
Former X Factor star Katie Waissel has claimed she was left feeling ‘suicidal’ as a result of being on the show.
Following Jedward’s public condemnation of X Factor and Simon Cowell, numerous former stars have come forward with their own experiences while on the talent series.
Katie competed in 2010, the same year as One Direction, and placed seventh overall.
Matt Cardle eventually won that year, with Rebecca Ferguson – who has also now spoken out about the show and music industry – coming in second.
But a decade on, Katie has spoken about her treatment on the show, stating she ‘doesn’t want to stay silent’ anymore and revealing she is having treatment for PTSD.
Talking about what went on behind-the-scenes, Katie said: ‘We all had to go through media training – almost a type of brainwash – ensuring we never said a bad word about the show or those that worked on or alongside it.
‘But how can we stay silent when future careers were shattered, and past contestants, myself included, are still undertaking therapy for PTSD caused by this show?
‘I had experienced such a low point when I was trying to rebuild my life, that I had frighteningly found myself contemplating suicide.’
‘When I made the X Factor live shows, I realised it categorically falls under the umbrella of soft scripted reality entertainment TV shows,’ she continued.
‘It’s not what it seems. For example, mentors do not really mentor their “artists”. They don’t see them.’
When approached for comment, an X Factor representative said: ”Duty of care to our contestants is of the utmost importance to us.
‘We take welfare very seriously and have measures in place to ensure that they are supported.’
Her comments join a growing number of contestants who have claimed there was lack of care behind-the-scenes, with Chico Slimani saying the team ‘didn’t care about them’ and Lloyd Daniels saying he felt coerced into supressing his sexuality.
However, other stars, including Honey G, has defended Simon and the long-running ITV competition, saying ‘no one was used and abused’ on her series.
After leaving X Factor, Katie released her debut album the following year, and later relocated to the US.
She returned to the UK to appear on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, placing eighth.
Katie is now the proud mum to a baby boy named Hudson, who was born in 2018, and is a fitness expert and personal trainer.
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