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Susan Boyle Hospitalized After Losing ‘Britain’s Got Talent’
After having the “Britain’s Got Talent” crown stolen from her by the 10-piece dance group Diversity, Susan Boyle congratulated the young act, shimmied on stage while lifting her dress up to reveal her leg – and then suffered an emotional breakdown and was admitted to a private clinic.
“Police were called to doctors assessing a woman under the Mental Health Act. The woman was taken voluntarily by ambulance to a clinic. At the request of doctors, police accompanied the ambulance,” a spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said, according to the New York Times.
Photo: AP Photo
Fans gather in Susan Boyle’s home town of Blackburn, West Lothian to watch her perform in "Britain’s Got Talent" live semi-final.
Boyle, a 48-year-old dowdy, unemployed Scot who lives with her cat Pebbles, skyrocketed to fame with her “Britain’s Got Talent” audition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Miserables.” She quickly became a YouTube hit and the hottest interviewee on Oprah and Larry King’s (virtual) couch.
But going from unknown to household name isn’t always a smooth transition, especially with all the pressure Boyle had to live up to.
Boyle almost didn’t make it to Saturday’s show.
BBC News reported that all of the media attention forced Boyle to consider quitting the show before the finale. It also noted she was moved to a “safe house” prior to the finale.
Photo: AP Photo
“She had a rocky moment a couple of days ago when she woke up and saw some very negative headlines and suddenly felt the pressure of world attention,” “Britain’s Got Talent” judge Piers Morgan said, according to BBC News. “You have to remember this is someone who has gone from complete anonymity to global stardom in the space of six weeks.”
When Diversity was announced as this year’s “Britain’s Got Talent” winner, the audience gasped and Boyle looked stunned. She then proclaimed “The best people won. That’s showbiz,” followed by the shimming and showing some skin before exiting the stage with a big smile, according to the U.K.’s Mirror.
“I hope to get an album out and I’ll just play it by ear,” Boyle said. “What a journey. It was unbelievable and very humbling. Thank you for everything.”
Apparently she wasn’t so happy backstage. According to GMTV, Boyle is accused of shouting “I hate this show” backstage and throwing a glass of water on a staff member who tried to calm her down.
Photo: AP Photo
The press gathers outside London’s Priory Clinic.
Morgan said she was admitted to the private clinic because she was emotionally drained and exhausted but that she was “essentially fine.”
“She was very tired and hasn’t been sleeping. She has just gone away to have some time to herself and to sleep and eat, doing all the things she hasn’t been able to do in the last week,” Morgan said.
Diversity took 24.9 percent of the vote compared with Boyle’s 20.2 percent. Saxophonist Julian Smith finished the show in third place with 16.4 percent of the vote.
In addition to bragging rights, Diversity walked away with 100,000 pounds ($160,000) and the honor of performing at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.
The U.K.’s Mirror reported that Boyle is expected to sign with “Britain’s Got Talent” judge Simon Cowell’s record label and record her debut album with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. The paper also reported that Diversity might join Michael Jackson onstage during his nine-month residency at London’s O2 Arena.
Read the New York Times article here.
Read the GMTV article here.
Read the BBC News article here.