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'I hate this show', Susan Boyle screams before going to rehab
By Georgina Littlejohn, London Lite Last updated at 15:14pm on 01.06.09Britain's Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle was today in The Priory rehab clinic to recover from the stress of the TV talent show.
"Distraught": Susan Boyle leaving the Wembley studio on Saturday
Her admission to the celebrity clinic followed her "meltdown" on Saturday night after nearly 20m viewers saw her lose to Essex dance troupe Diversity.
Despite appearing calm on stage, as soon as the 48-year-old Scottish spinster arrived back in her dressing room she reportedly shouted: "I hate this show. I hate it!"
Miss Boyle was said to have burst out of her dressing room and run along the corridor with only her bra on her top half, yelling four-letter abuse at production staff. She also reportedly threw a cup of water over a floor manager and staff tried to restrain her. Then, at 6pm last night, an ambulance was called by staff at the Crowne Plaza hotel in St James's.
Doctors assessed Miss Boyle under the Mental Health Act and she voluntarily went to the Priory, in Southgate, at the request of doctors and police officers, who were also called to the hotel.
One guest said: "Everybody was watching from their windows and craning for a view of Susan as she left. Everyone I spoke to commented on how calm and dignified she was." Employees at the four-star hotel have been told by bosses to stay silent about last night's dramatic scenes. One staff member said: "We've been told not to say anything because it is a private and confidential matter."
But a show insider said of Miss Boyle: "Losing just got to her. What she has failed to grasp is, it doesn't matter that she didn't win. She's going to get an album deal and be a huge star."
A statement from talkbackThames said: "Following Saturday night's show, Susan is exhausted and emotionally drained. She has been seen by her private GP who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery. We offer her our ongoing support and wish her a speedy recovery."
The tables turned on Miss Boyle during Saturday's ITV1 final after she performed her signature song, I Dreamed A Dream. Some of the audience booed her and viewers looked on in amazement afterwards as she pulled up her skirt to her thigh and made a chopping s ign af ter judges commented on her performance.
Her family revealed that despite her " gracious" behaviour in saluting Diversity as worthy winners, she was "devastated" and "distraught".
Piers Morgan, one of the show's judges, told GMTV today she was in "a state" all last week. He added: "She is getting away from everyone. She needs time to sleep and eat and do the things that she found rather difficult last week."
Publicist Max Clifford said today: "What's happened has never happened before - Susan's gone from total obscurity to worldwide fame in seconds, and that's a huge adjustment for anyone.
"She had a lot of negative press last week and is clearly very sensitive." He added that things "became too much for her" and she was taking a rest. Mr Clifford went on: "She wanted this and is mostly enjoying it. But at the moment she needs friends around her that have been her friends for a long time, and people that can take care of her."
Friends said recently that Miss Boyle yearns for her old life back, living with her cat Pebbles in her council flat in Blackburn, West Lothian.
She is tipped to earn £10m from a deal with Britain's Got Talent creator Simon Cowell's Sony BMG label, tours in America and selling the rights to her story. But Cowell, who said she had a "massive future", faced criticism for putting the singer, who has learning difficulties, under such huge stress.
In the next few days, Miss Boyle will prepare for the BGT nationwide tour, earning £500 a night before tax and agents' fees. She also will be flown to the Czech Republic for three days to record her first album.
Mr Clifford said all Cowell wanted was the best for Miss Boyle. "Simon's attitude is very simple," he said. "This isn't about him, but Susan Boyle."
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Reader views (24)
i find this article amusing.who hasn't said "i hate school,or i hate this job,etc.)so what if she said something.pretty normal gal .your just blowing anything she says up.oh and who hasn't yelled/! really .this is stupid.madonna walks around in a bra,oh yeah,thats her outfit.in the back they walk around getting ready and probably gettting un ready.it was so healthy she expressed feelings in he moment.she is human.not a puppet. i also really doubt doctors and staff of bgt are telling you anything.get over yoursleves.they do care about susan and do care about how she is doing.they do not want susan eing hrrassed by all of ou.the pres ndmedia and gssip.thats the real truth and problem cause and starters.hy don't you all stop pointing fingers and take your own responsibility.making more waves now.trying to split susan and bgt staff against each othe.the media is the source of all this.she can and will learn and understand this.now yo wat to throw out learning disabilities.just stop.you guys have the learning disabilities. .she will just move on.you guys have this really wrong.wheres piers'.he has her back as a genuin friend.go ahead and try and twist that up.piers can handle you.simon,he is taking care of her as well.they ar all also learning how to care for her and will accomdate her needs. security is the biggest issue,.cimberly
- Cimberly, usa
Susan Boyle is a woman who has been diagnosed as a person with learning difficulties in the past,has she been assessed with regards to emotional and mental health issues prior to the show?Shame if she has not, as it is clear that,despite her singing ability,she clearly displays the signs of a person who had to be assessed properly. we have seen many acts during the auditions that would make a brilliant show but their mental and emotional state seemed questionable-oh well,the funnier the better,BGT producers might say. But in Susan's case, the joke went too far.
- Sofia, hatfield,uk
Great singer with amazing range. She will do well.
- Jay Mahn, Florence, AZ USA
The problem is, she was seen as a winner before she even won anything.
She is an amazing singer but not the best. After her first performance she was given a make-over and paraded on TV here, and in the USA because she was seen as a future money-maker. Whilst our wonderful press did what they normally do to reality TV contestants - dig up the dirt!
Unfortunately Susan didn't get time to enjoy the wealth before going off the rails like Britney and Amy Winehouse, so at least that's saved us from the boredom of having to read about her for the next few years.
- Joon, South London
I hope that Susan gets better very soon. So many people enjoyed her singing and I hope that we will hear her sing again very soon when she's recovered. We all wish her well.
- Debbie, UK
Gee, I wonder what Amy Winehouse would do??
- Johninphoenix, phoenix az usa
Kerry in Purley,
You've spoken for the 42 million who don't watch this rubbish.
And rightly shamed many of the 18 million that did.
Poor, poor woman. Does anyone really think that her life would be better for a few £million?That's your mother, your sister or your Daughter up there, destroyed for what? Ratings. ITV. Cowell's ego?
- Ged, Blackheath, London
I have followed Susan and she is just brilliant, Now let her have some quiet time and hopefully Simon will stick to his bargain and let the USA see and most of all hear her beautiful voice.
She is a beautiful lady and a human being no more horrible remarks from the press and the public.
MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU SUSAN YOU CAN DO IT GIRL
- Ollie, London
If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. I think she threw a wobbly as she didn't win. Stupid little woman. No dignity. All the hype that she would win then when she didn't, she reverted to a two year old. Send her home.
- Charles Harrison, London England
Poor Susan, just let her be for a while. Keep the press away from her house and let her go back to her normal life with her family, friends and Pebbles for a couple of weeks.
Maybe then she can make some decisions about what she really wants in her future.
- Thelma Davis, North Vancouver
Shame on you Simon Cromwell and ITV, for the way you handled the Susan Boyle’s phenomenon!
You had your show known wordwide,thanks to Susan.
You topped audience,thanks to Susan.
When she arrived in London,she was mixed with all others participants.
She wasn’t like all the others participants,she was a planet super star!
She should have been fully protected!
When you were afraid she quit,you provided her with protection.As soon as she performed and lost,she was let by her own.
Piers Morgan is a puppet who enjoyed the visibillity brought by Susan’s unfortunate crush for him.
Simon looks healthier, but with all the tools he has, he didn’t provide Susan the protection she needed.
I discovered BGT with Susan Boyle. I watched all the auditions, etc. on BGT, from Canada, ‘live’ within more or less 15 minute gap. From now on, I will boycot BGT!
But I really hope you all (ITV, Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan, Amanda (who won interviews and a new job) will repay Susan for what she did for you!
- Micheline J., Montreal Canada
Poor Susan- too many spin doctors?
I wonder how Gordon Brown will react when he either chucked out by his party or the Electorate
- Stephen, Plymouth
Poor poor lady. She was obviously led to believe she was going to win and her disappointment seemed to hit her as if she was a child of 8/10. She is fragile so what on earth did anyone encourage her to be thrust into the limelight like this. Also, that little girl crying made a mockery of the whole thing. Where was her mother who should have simply taken her home until she was older. No wonder I seldom watch these programmes. I believe they are fixed by the three dummies from start to finish.
Amber in Mitcham
- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey
BGT is a modern version of Old Roman entertainment when "poor people" were thrown into an arena to fight lions and tigers...What a circus...
- Laure, Paris, France
and then by the end of the week we won't care, as the next round up of mentally vulnerables show up on Big Brother. Next!!!!
The producers of these allegedly "cheap" but money making machines, should think a bit more about the consequences of knowingly putting on stage people who really shouldn't be there. But hey - we are the punters, we are the bloggers we want car crash TV - so that is what we get. Its television its fine, and to that end the Simon Cowells and the Max Cliffords - well we created the need for them to. They were just smart enough to be the ones on the money making end of the scheme.
Suggestion - lets just cut to the end conclusion of reality TV and why don't we just bring back the mob to watch executions and throw a few folks to the lions.
- Jc, se1
I have just realised what could be the Achilles heel to the success of the Britain's Got Talent format.If it becomes public knowledge how many people have mental heath issues due to 'stress' it might become tainted.But then again a lot of the contestants are 'odd' and showbiz takes no prisoners..
- Jonnie Of Brixton, brixton,london,england
Is that Gordon Brown in the back of the car ?
- Vic, London
Poor woman, totally exploited by the vile Simon Cowell, the Puerile Amanda knicker flasher and the odious Piers Morgan. Why don't the British Public, laugh at disabled children or amputees as well? Seeing as the people with learning difficulties are fair game.
A shame on our nation and culture. And guess what, behind it all we see the lurking figure of "publicist" Max Clifford, I've trod in dog muck with more integrity than that man.
- Kerry, Purley
Poor Susan has obviouly bitten off more than she can chew! Perhaps the best thing would be to retire into oblivion once more.
- Josie, Stockholm, Sweden
'She is tipped to earn £10m from a deal with Britain's Got Talent creator Simon Cowell's Sony BMG label, tours in America and selling the rights to her story..'
Mr Cowell and Mr Clifford are presumably working pro bono.
- Mdj E10, london uk
What's the old saying? All that glitters.... Miss Boyle would do well to take that to heart. I have no doubt the producers built her up to her face as the one that would win and that she would be huge. These are money earning shows. Don't think for a minute that every action isn't controlled and pre-decided. I also have no doubt Miss Boyle already signed away her life - er, time - to Cowell et co. for a measly pittance. As if Piers gives 2 hoots for her. She'll be a tabloid headliner while she's breaking down, but no one's going to care what happens after she leaves. This is a very good cautionary tale for anyone who likes these trashy shows.
- 888, London
Maybe this is one of the many reasons Susan has never been able to break into showbiz. She clearly has a very fragile mental state and should be sent back home to recuperate and begin her old life again. Money isn't everything and the prospect of making a lot of money has not helped this lady one iota. I also feel it was very wrong of the judges to coment on her winning before the end of the show. They built her hopes up and she could not accept defeat. The British Press must also share some of the blame for hounding her.
- G.A.Gilmartin, Bristol,
Oh my god!!! wondered when this man Clifford, the snail , would crawl out of his shell, Susan B. tell him to sling his hook, the man has NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MORALS.
- Sorraya, croydon
"Friends said recently that Miss Boyle yearns for her old life back, living with her cat Pebbles in her council flat in Blackburn, West Lothian"
A middle-aged woman from a Scottish village is thrown into the glitsy and unreal world of media and celebrity. This incidence is a wake up call for her, and her close relatives and friends should pursuade her to give up this new life, and go back to her old life. Millions of dollars are not going to give her peace.
- Norman, Hatfield
