Why is Alexandra Burke hated so much?

[Resi12]

It's NOT because she's black. It's because she comes off as rude and arrogant.

Deary me, I'm not picking on you I swear but could you link me (or anyone else that thinks this) evidence of this rude and arrogant behaviour?

(And please let it not be OK.COM by a hundred)

[JadeFan]

Deary me, I'm not picking on you I swear but could you link me (or anyone else that thinks this) evidence of this rude and arrogant behaviour?

(And please let it not be OK.COM by a hundred)

I don't personally think she comes off as rude or arrogant, I was just saying others would perceive her to be so. Pretty much every interview I guess, whenever she goes loud or blah-y.

[LoveLockdown]

It's NOT because she's black. It's because she comes off as rude and arrogant.

I don't see the rudeness, she's always polite. Also it is, partially. Misha B v Cher Lloyd as an example. Also Alex's personality and style is common globally but not in the UK. Most UK stars don't dance, in fact they barely move...she was the first to actually dance, and then Cheryl came after.

[LoveLockdown]

I don't personally think she comes off as rude or arrogant, I was just saying others would perceive her to be so. Pretty much every interview I guess, whenever she goes loud or blah-y.

Thing is, even when she says nothing, she gets hate and not like ah...don't like her...it's death threats. It's out of proportion with her supposed 'personality'.

[TeenIdle]

I do feel that some of the hate towards her is racially motivated on some subconscious level. This country has always had a problem with outspoken black women in showbiz. Just because people aren't calling her racial slurs, doesn't mean it isn't part of the reason. It's part of an unfortunate stereotype that has been created. Re: black women in Big Brother.

This has to be a bit true. She's a beautiful woman with a big personality and some amazing tunes. I don't understand why the UK has an issue with people being "overly excited" or "too confident". When you have a someone who is black, and dark-skinned, and possesses those traits, most of the more extreme reactions (like death threats) are going to come from people with a mentality of "how dare someone like her think she can act like that?" She seems to have no problem with people disliking how she acts, so she's going to rub many people wrong, and people with internalized racism and hateful attitudes are going to react dangerously to that.

I wish she'd come to America though. We'd probably be far more supportive of her.

[Eric Generic]

I know absolutely nothing about her beyond some of the hits, but hasn't Leona also been the subject of some prettty extreme hatred? I remember someone actually punching her at a signing event?! The common link seems to be talent-show singer and coloured female.

[Rhombus]

Who would have the motivation to punch Leona?

YOU'VE JUST BEEN TOO BLOODY KIND TO ANIMALS!!!!

[LoveLockdown]

This has to be a bit true. She's a beautiful woman with a big personality and some amazing tunes. I don't understand why the UK has an issue with people being "overly excited" or "too confident". When you have a someone who is black, and dark-skinned, and possesses those traits, most of the more extreme reactions (like death threats) are going to come from people with a mentality of "how dare someone like her think she can act like that?" She seems to have no problem with people disliking how she acts, so she's going to rub many people wrong, and people with internalized racism and hateful attitudes are going to react dangerously to that.

I wish she'd come to America though. We'd probably be far more supportive of her.

She said she's going this year. I really hope radio hammer her :)

[MistakenBiology]

She comes across as arrogant. Simples.

Huge fan of Alexandra, went to her solo tour, voted for her numerous times on the X Factor (only act I've ever really voted for), but I think what has happened is that on the X Factor she came across as this innocent vulnerable girl who wanted to live her dream, what with her crying every time anyone paid her a compliment. Then she sang with Beyonce and you saw her dream come true in front of you, so you instantly felt warmth to her..

She then comes back a year later, and starts doing this "Oh hmmhmm sister.. I tell Simon this.. Simon make it happen baby.. oh yes baby!" And it just seems forced. It's like the UK voted for the sweet innocent girl, and in return got her arrogant sister, and yet we can't return her to any store.

It's either that or she has shit hair.

[Lazarus]

I very much enjoyed it when she was forced to play that gig in Peterhead after internet scamps abused some Nokia competition thing online :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/8401791.stm

Non-Scottish folk, worth watching that video from about 1:20 mins onwards and trying to decipher what language the fans are speaking in....

[Alphableat]

It's because people fell in love with the weeping mess that dueted with Beyoncé, not a confident verging-on-too-many-Americanisms spouting sasspot.

[mump boy]

She's dark-skinned, sassy and confident. People don't accept that. I know people will start shouting 'RACE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS' but I honestly think it does. Dark-skinned women are only okay if being sassy is basically their career (as an actress / TV personality) or if they're demure. Look at Leona "too shy to talk" Lewis.

I might be touching a very sensitive issue here and I probably don't even know what I'm talking about because I'm white and I'm Dutch but this is just my impression and I'm not the stupidest guy so yeah, this is my opinion.

This ^ x 10

[Eric Generic]

There has to be some kind of racial/gender motivation behind the extreme hatred towards Alexandra and (especially) Leona, which actually spilled over into physical assault. Even if said motivation is subconscious. Unless I've missed something, the likes of Will Young, Steve Brookstein and any other male X-Factor/Pop Idol type have yet to be on the end of similar attacks (verbal or otherwise).

[Alphableat]

For the most part, people love Leona though. She's still seen as a bit of a 'national treasure', regardless of whether someone punched her in the face.

[Robsolete]

Exactly, the guy didn't attack Leona because he hated her, it was because he was a loony. Wasn't he supposed to be a big fan of her? Nice way of showing it. Maybe he made her a card or something and got offended when she said it was 'good' rather than 'amazing.'

[Someboy]

I've never understood the dislike towards Alex.

I sometimes wonder if we're just so programmed to have our popstars speak in bland, mumbling statements that when someone like Alex comes along and strings three or four sentences together and reveals she has opinions of her own, the 'arrogant' label is just an easy descriptor, whether it's true or not.

[EnsnareTheSenses]

I very much enjoyed it when she was forced to play that gig in Peterhead after internet scamps abused some Nokia competition thing online :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/8401791.stm

Non-Scottish folk, worth watching that video from about 1:20 mins onwards and trying to decipher what language the fans are speaking in....

Hahaha! That is BRILLIANT! Hell, I'm Scottish, and I only just managed to decipher what they were saying!

'Ken whit ah liked aboot urr?'

[TeenIdle]

She said she's going this year. I really hope radio hammer her :)

I don't get the hate the UK had for "Elephant" either. Probably the best thing she's put her name too, but I guess it only further pushes her Americanisms if she's not doing something like "Broken Heels" *cringes*.

If she worked with some producers like Steve Aoki to master that sound, she'd be big among the EDC kind of crowd in the US.

[kyle17]

Elephant didn't work because the metaphor wasn't very well known. Compare it to 'What doesn't kill you makes your stronger' for example and it's a bit rubbish.

Who would have the motivation to punch Leona?

YOU'VE JUST BEEN TOO BLOODY KIND TO ANIMALS!!!!

'Not everything is amazing Leona!'

[SunshineConcubine]

Is the elephant in the room metaphor not well known? I thought the only person who hadn't heard of it was Alexandra herself, who seemed to take it upon herself to explain it in every interview she did to promote the single as if it was some alien concept.

[kyle17]

Judging by youtube comments, twitter tweets and the like not especially well known.

[Alphableat]

I think it's also just not a great song.

In general I've become more and more disappointed with Alexandra as far as her songs go. I still like her a lot though. She's a great popstar.

[StratusJM]

I do feel that some of the hate towards her is racially motivated on some subconscious level. This country has always had a problem with outspoken black women in showbiz. Just because people aren't calling her racial slurs, doesn't mean it isn't part of the reason. It's part of an unfortunate stereotype that has been created. Re: black women in Big Brother.

"This". We can all scream it's not racism all we like and OBVS not everyone who dislikes her is racially motivated but I think most all of us subconsciously stereotype every single type of person in society and react according to that. I mean how often have you seen women who speak sense being called bitches and men who say the same things being called "straight-talking"? Subconscious prejudice is hugely prevalent in society.

I like her. I hate her music. Most people hate her, but like her music. Maybe I'm just crazy.

[EnsnareTheSenses]

I think it's also just not a great song.

In general I've become more and more disappointed with Alexandra as far as her songs go. I still like her a lot though. She's a great popstar.

This is exactly how I'm feeling at the moment. My hopes for her are rapidly fading, which is incredibly sad, because she literally is a pool of potential.

[Itty Bitty Piggy]

I don't think it has anything to do with the colour of her skin...

Judging from casual bitching sessions I've witnessed or taken part in when watching her in the past, I think the problem is that she comes across as a little too ambitious. Ambition is great, and an admirable feature, but she just has that look in her eyes which says "I would kill my own cat and sell my mother to the Taliban if it means I can be famous". There's just something slightly annoying about her.