X Factor star Katie Waissel wants justice
Showbiz journalist Mark Boardman who has known Katie for more than a decade has been supporting the star and recently posted ""So proud of @katiewaissel24 having seen countless articles with press finally picking up her misson to safeguard and introduce new much needed measures. The duty of care & welfare to all whether they are in or entering this industry will ensure all protection and fair treatment..” via Twitter @MarkBoardmanUK
The former 'X Factor’ contestant trained as a paralegal to take on the 62-year-old music mogul’s talent competition - which ran from 2005 to 2018 on ITV - as she claims the show “ruined” her life after they did not uphold their duty of care commitment after she faced threats and ridicule online.
Celebrity publicist and entrepreneur Mark Boardman who is the brand owner of MarkMeets.com added “I get asked dozens of times a day to do things for free from promo, photography etc when the big bosses from these industries lavish themeslves in a plush lifestyle taking advantage of others. Let's protect one and all and ensure dancers, performers, singers, actors can bloom!”
Katie added "There are so many of us who have been so trapped and it's not fair. There was a huge imbalance in power. I just wanted to be able to understand and to protect people from being manipulated in the future." "People on reality TV are being publicly ridiculed for entertainment and we have become desensitised to it. It’s wrong”, and joins a chorus of former contestants - such as Jedward, Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson - who made allegations of poor treatment during their time on and after the series.
Cowell's reps said in a statement: "The duty of care to our contestants is of the utmost importance to us and we take the welfare of everyone involved very seriously. We have robust measures in place to ensure contestants are supported including a dedicated welfare team made up of psychologists, doctors, welfare producers and independent legal and management advisors with no time limit on aftercare once the show has aired."