Update On Susan Boyle’s Condition, Suffering Exhaustion
Scottish singer Susan Boyle was suffering from exhaustion after taking second place in a TV talent competition that turned the humble church volunteer into an Internet sensation and global star, the show’s producers said Monday.
Boyle was admitted to London’s Priory Clinic on Sunday, a day after she finished behind a male dance group on the “Britain’s Got Talent” television show, the Sun newspaper reported.
“Nobody has had to put up with the kind of attention Susan has had. Nobody could have predicted it,” one of the show’s judges, Piers Morgan, told breakfast TV show GMTV. “It has been crazy, she has gone from anonymity to being the most downloaded woman in history.”
Boyle was favored to win the show’s finals — watched by more than 19 million people — after a clip from her first appearance became the fifth most-watched in YouTube history, viewed more than 220 million times.
The discovery that a woman from a small Scottish town was capable of singing very well on a national stage turned Boyle into a modern-day Cinderella. On Oprah Winfrey’s U.S. television show, the singer had said she was “loving every second” of her unexpected stardom.
But much of the media storm surrounding her debut was laced with snide commentary about her looks, her social awkwardness and her remark that she had never been kissed.
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond was scathing about the media pressure, saying there were “elements of a press who like nothing better than to build people up and then drag them down.”
By Friday, the pressure appeared to be building on the shy singer, who reportedly went into seclusion after exploding at journalists from Britain’s notoriously aggressive tabloids.
Television company TalkbackThames said Boyle was “exhausted and emotionally drained” and was taking a few days off.
“She has been seen by her private GP (doctor), who supports her decision to take a few days out for rest and recovery,” the company said.
London police would not confirm the report that Boyle was admitted to a clinic, but said doctors were called to assist a woman under the Mental Health Act, and the woman went voluntarily to a clinic.
During the show’s final Saturday night, Boyle had looked tense and uncomfortable after giving a strong vocal performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables — the same song she chose for her April debut.
When Diversity was announced as the winner, she looked relieved and relaxed. Smiling broadly, she said the best act had won and wished the dance group all the best.
Boyle drew 20.2 percent of the 4 million votes cast in the final, behind Diversity’s 24.9 percent.
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Even though Susan’s explosive, global, popularity - literally overnight; was something the show had never experienced with a contestant before, THEY should have taken more responsibility for what was happening to her. They were in more of a position to deal with what was happening than she was. They knew her background and knew she had recently lost her mother and was still in mourning. She lived in a poor area, had never been gainfully employed in her adult life and had some minor learning difficulties. How did they think she would take all the pressure? They are in the “business” and should have stepped up and done more!!!
When they saw what was happening to her in the weeks leading up to the final show; Susan’s outbursts that took place in the days leading up to the performance - she very nearly dropped out until Simon encouraged her to continue - they should have made arrangements for her care in the off chance that she did NOT win that night. All of the judges knew that the stress was building with Susan and that the media was literally eating her alive. They should have been prepared to take her to a quiet, PRIVATE location where she could deal with her loss without the MEDIA in her face constantly.
Now, not only does she have to deal with not winning - she has to see photos of herself being taken away by the police and read the reports with every detail of her ordeal - even the phone call to her cat!!! NO ONE should have to contend with this kind of pressure, but especially not someone like Susan Boyle. The names that the British press have attached to her are sickening - how could they do this to sweet lady like Susan Boyle.
I noticed that she had some type of problem during the audition - it was the inappropriate (hip action) behavior she exhibited that caught my attention - but I chalked it up to tension. But, when she won the second phase of the contest and did the same “hip shaking” shimmy to Piersy Baby - I knew something was not right. This is just not normal behavior for a “maiden” church lady - very inappropriate.
I wish her all the best in the world and hope the British media will leave her alone. However, recalling how they tormented Princess Diana and others -they will NEVER give her the peace she so badly needs.
May God Bless Susan and give her the strength and grace to deal with whatever the future holds for her. I think she has a bright future ahead of her and a very successful career as a professional singer - just as she wished on that first audition.
Judy