Entertainment
ITV blasted ‘unbelievably arrogant’ for failing to meet X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson after ‘bullying’ claims-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro
ITV insisted the production companies took the ‘duty of care very seriously.’
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ITV has come under fire for not investigating accusations made by Rebecca Ferguson about her experience as a contestant on The X Factor.
The singer, 36, appeared on the now-axed competition series, judged by the likes of Simon Cowell, in 2006, and was named runner-up.
She has since been vocal about her stint on the reality show and said would not have wished what was happening to her behind-the-scenes ‘on my worst enemy’.
‘It should not come with bullying, pressured into contracts I don’t want to sign,’ she said on a Twitter live stream earlier this month.
The broadcaster’s bosses, Carolyn McCall, Kevin Lygo and Kyla Mullins, appeared at a parliament committee on Wednesday, during which they were grilled about the culture of its shows.
Rebecca asked ITV to investigate her claims about The X Factor (Picture: Getty)
Several of its former stars, in addition to Rebecca, including Eamonn Holmes and Dr Ranj Singh, who were on This Morning, accused the network of fostering a ‘toxic’ workplace.
Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage asked McCall, Lygo and Mullins to respond to the claims made by Rebecca about The X Factor.
Mullins said when her complaint was raised ITV contacted the production companies, who issue the contracts with the contestants.
She said the firms responded to every claim and there was ‘confirmation that things had moved on significantly.’
‘They took the duty of care very seriously,’ she added.
Mullins then said their response was handed back to Rebecca who enquired if a formal probe would be commissioned.
But Mullins said that after ‘having dealt with the production companies, there was nothing really for us as the broadcaster to investigate.’
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Dinenage asked if there was not a ‘kind of arrogance in dismissing her claims’, branding the decision: ‘Unbelievably arrogant.’
More to follow.
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