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Thousands of Laura fans demand X Factor recall
By Bo Wilson Last updated at 12:03pm on 11.11.08More than 12,000 X Factor fans have signed a petition expressing their anger after contestant Laura White was booted off last Saturday's show, and are demanding she be reinstated.
Laura, 21, had been a favourite to win the ITV talent show. Even Culture Secretary Andy Burnham joined the protest, telling the Commons yesterday the decision had been “very harsh”. One fan alleged the vote was “fixed” while another called it a “complete farce”.
The exit factor: Laura White appearing on GMTV
Others said they had not been able to get through when they tried to vote for her. But an X Factor spokeswoman said there were “no issues with the phone lines”. She added: “Viewers vote for the act they want to keep in the competition and Laura White and Ruth Lorenzo received the least number of votes.”
The decision then went to the judges, who voted to keep Ruth. In the petition, some viewers accuse judge Louis Walsh of getting rid of Laura so his group, JLS, would have a better chance. But Walsh, 56, said today: “Laura was never going to win.”
Protests: Laura on GMTV with TV critic Sharon Marshall and Xtra Factor presenter Holly Willoughby
Meanwhile the X Factor finalists were celebrating as their single, Hero, was at No 1 for the second week.
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Reader views (20)
So _WHY_ did Mariah Carey _MIME_ the first song she sang??? LMAO.
- Dds, ds, england
i just can not understand how people get so worked up over something so trivial, to the point that even politicains now get invloved. Are people's lives so dull, boring and empty that they revolve around the television and spoon fed entertainment.. wkae up people ! live your own lives ! Get out and do something.
- Joanna, london england
Omg you are all so immature lol! look i bet not one of you here thats slagged off one of the singers can do any better!
Julie did you not hear simon when he said Mariah Carey ws THE best singer in the WORLD! lets see you sing better!
They are all good singers they have all done well they get voted off thats the name of the game! we all have our favorite and if you want them to win VOTE
- Nicole, Inverness
I think Mariah had a problem with her throat or voice because her voice was awful to begin with but warmed up toward the end of her song. I think the ONLY one that is any good in the whole competition this year is Diana Vickers and that's mainly coz she's got personality/image as well as a good voice.
- Isabel, woking
Janey C... Loving it! That's what I call keeping it real.
- Aria, South London
This claim about a fix is what happens when the various reality shows relying on votes are found out in other fixes. Now its a ready made excuse for failure.
Someone else got it right. If she was that good, she wouldn't need a win on the show to get a recording contract, or at least some form of recognition outside of the show..
- Rogan, Irving
A, Berkshire (or should that be Burkshire???)
Laura was awful on Saturday and deserved to be voted off.
And as for being jealous of a manufactured singer who thinks she's the cats pyjama's who allows herself to be humiliated by her constantly roving husband and can only express herself with sarcasm and snipes at the other judges then errr NO i am not jealous, any singer could sing the Girl's Aloud songs they have no character or calibre and I wouldn't have thought any of them are revered by REAL muscian's.
They are a t*ts and teeth band, like the Pussycat dolls, spice girls, sugarbabes, etc, etc, etc.
Oh and 'A' how about showing a bit of backbone and giving your name?????
- Janey C, inverness scotland
12,000 people have no life, hmm interesting survey.
- John, London
Laura and Cheryl were way too smug about themselves. Admittedly Laura had a good voice. No personality though.
- Shayne, London
Seems more like a plan by the judges to boost the ratings. From the little I've seen of show this year it appears pretty dire and as their attempts to create a "feud" between Danni Minogue and Cheryl Cole have fallen flat they thought they'd spice things up by getting rid of one of the favourites.
- Claire, London, UK
Honestly,...12,000 moaners have nothing better to do with their lives other than whine over the result of a sub-par karoake/pub singing tv contest??!!...build a bridge people and get over it!!!
- Ali Sichilongo, London
Ha, how funny, surely Janey C you are tone deaf.
Little Miss Jealous of Cheryl perchance????
- A, Berkshire
There is something unlikeable about her. Sings technically well but somehow sounds mechanic. And Mariah Carey's support is not necessary a positive thing....
- Jason, London
Well, all those people complaining... Why didn't you waste your money and vote for her?? I hope Ruth wins, she seems to be the only one in there with personality.
- Lucy, Chelsea
Listening back to Rachel singing (on the radio), she sounded absolutely terrible and didn't deserve to say.
Saying that, Mariah Carey didn't give a great performance herself!
- Julie, London
I was sorry to see Laura go - there were definitely a couple performances miles worse that evening. And I definitely agree the other judges were only too pleased to vote her off to help their own acts' chances.
- Marianne, SW France
wonder how many of her 'fans' actually voted for her..... they were bottom two becuase they got least number of votes. get over it! Austin was far better than most of them and he got voted off!!
- Nl, London
Laura didnt deserve to go this week. But in my opinion Ruth is the better singer. As she doesnt whine and make thoseannoying Christina Aguilera sounds. Rachel and Daniel should have been in the bottom two this week. Then again Rachel shouldnt even be here because she should have gone instead of Austin.
Bring back AUSTIN HE WAS ROBBED!
- Emma, Leeds
If she's that good then she'll get a record deal regardless of whether she was booted off X Factor.
- Aria, South London
Why shouldn't she be voted off?
She was rubbish, and she shouts rather than sings.
And besides it worked a treat at knocking that smug smirk of Cheryl's face! (Little Miss Know-it-all-NOT)
- Janey C, inverness scotland
