‘X Factor’ winner Sam Bailey has admitted she “feels sorry” for the current reigning champion, Ben Haenow.
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Sam won the tenth series of the show back in 2013, but was eventually dropped by Simon Cowell’s record label a year later, despite hitting the number-one spot in the UK albums chart with her debut collection, ‘The Power Of Love’.
She has now revealed she doesn’t think Simon is as invested as Ben as he could be, claiming she thinks he's more interested in last year’s runner-up, Fleur East, who was also signed to his record label, after leaving the show.
Sam Bailey
Speaking to The Sun, Sam says: “I felt sorry for Ben on the ‘X Factor’ tour.
“Fleur opened the show and had amazing outfits, pyrotechnics, dancers and big performances. Then Ben went on at the end and it was an anti-climax. It’s obvious they are pushing Fleur to be the star.”
Ben Haenow
The ‘Skyscraper’ singer adds: “Simon can see where the money is going to come from and will make sure Fleur is the next big thing.”
Fleur East
This isn’t the first time Sam has been critical of ‘The X Factor’, previously claiming that this year’s updated judging panel don’t have enough experience between them to adequately judge talent.
She also said that she doesn’t have much hope for the over-25s in this year’s competition, due to what she sees as a youth-oriented rebrand of the show.
Last month, Sam said: “The ‘Overs’ don’t stand a chance this year. Would I survive? No, because three of the judges are very young and looking for young talent.
“You have got someone from Radio 1 and I’m not really played on Radio 1. So I wouldn’t have much of a look-in there.”