Singer’s brother slams online bullies LEAVE POOR ALEX ALONE

ALEXANDRA Burke’s brother has leaped to the star’s defence – blasting online bullies who are making her time on Strictly hell.

The singer was last week voted into the bottom two by viewers – despite judges making her joint top. Alex, 29, has also been subjected to abuse online with some trolls branding her “fake” and a “diva”.

But her half- brother Travoir said: “People have forgotten she’s just lost her mum. People have forgotten that she’s human as well. It’s bullies. They’re attacking someone who’s trying to please them.

“She is upset, but she is still working so hard. It’s sad. Anything you do, people are going to criticise you. But she’s been through a lot in the past few months and they’re kicking her when she’s down.”

Former X Factor champ Alex has won consistent praise from the judges – but has struggled to win over the public.

Last week she landed in the bottom two for a second time in a row – despite her and Debbie McGee topping the leaderboard with 39 points each.

Her tears on the show were branded “false” by viewers, while rumours of backstage arguments and furious rows have led to her being labelled a diva.

But Travoir, 37, who has the same dad as Alex, added: “She is a diva, you have to be a diva. You have to be to win. You can’t please everyone. No matter what you do, you still get criticised.

“She’s competitive. People just don’t like people who are driven. You can’t help yourself crying sometimes.

“If she wasn’t crying they’d still find something to say. They’d go, ‘why’s she not crying? She’s e’s acting tough’. People have got her wrong.”

Security guard Travoir, ravoir, of Sutton, Surrey, also believes es Alex has been unfairly targeted over ver her previous dancing experience, , while Davood Ghadami, Aston Merrygold and Mollie King have not. ot.

Alex, who lost her mum Melissa Bell in August, admitted mitted this week the trolling upset her. er.

But last night, she e and partner Gorka Marquez looked ooked sure of reaching the final after er winning a standing ovation with an incredible salsa to Finally by CeCe Peniston, niston, scoring 40 out of 40, her first st of the series. And she he scored 39 for a stunning ng Viennese waltz to Tina Arena’s version of R. E. M’s Everybody Hurts. urts. Judge Darcey told ld her she had “a wonderful onderful ethereal quality” ality” while Bruno said d she was “elegant, classy, ssy, with a soft dreamy my quality”. Darcey rcey added: “If you’re not ot in the final I’m going to o get into his speedos” she said pointing ointing at Bruno.

“It was party time e all the way,” said Shirley. And Craig told her she was “fab-u-lous”. ”.

Alexandra led last ast night’s leaderboard with her r 79 points.

No wonder Travoir r reckons his sister could still win the Glitterball.

“Even on The X Factor some of the he public didn’t like her er – and she still proved ved them wrong,” he said. id.

“So all she can do o now is maintain her focus and prove that she can do it.”