Strictly abuse left me ‘mentally scarred’: Burke
Former X Factor champion Alexandra Burke has claimed the abuse and criticism she received from trolls during her time on Strictly Come Dancing has “mentally scarred” her and her family.
The singer was accused of being “fake” when she cried on the dancing show and was branded a diva in reports.
However, Burke said her positive experiences far outweighed the negative and she was excited to reunite with her partner Gorka Marquez for the Strictly live tour.
“I had a really rough ride,” she said.
“I think it got to maybe week 11 and I spoke out and that is when it kind of stopped – not stopped totally, but a lot of people stuck up for me. “A lot of love was there before, but it just came through so much after I finally said it was damaging.
“And I’m not going to lie. I don’t miss that part of it at all.
“That part of it mentally scarred me and still has and it’s done that to my family as well, but I think we are strong.”
Burke lost her mother, Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell, shortly before the show started and said the family was healing.