Simon Cowell has issued a press release following former X Issue contestant Lucy Spraggan revealing that she was raped whereas participating within the present.
The musician got here ahead together with her story earlier this week, and revealed that she was sexually assaulted by a resort porter in 2012.
The singer-songwriter – who was aged 20 on the time – was celebrating fellow contestant Rylan Clark’s birthday in Mayfair, as ITV reported.
On the social gathering, she fell unconscious and was escorted again to her resort by a member of the ITV manufacturing workforce and a resort porter. The porter, nonetheless, later used a “traceable keycard” to enter her room and assault her.
The porter was arrested after enough proof was gathered, and subsequently imprisoned for 10 years (by way of The Mirror). Spraggan has since gone on to element the assault and its aftermath in her new memoir Course of: Discovering My Method Via.
She additionally informed her story in an emotional interview with The Guardian, recalling the second she realised what had occurred to her. “I woke up the next day with this sense of sheer dread. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that level of confusion since,” she mentioned. “I knew that I’d been raped, but I could not process that. So I put my clothes on and went into autopilot.”
Now, music business mogul and frequent X Issue choose Simon Cowell has shared a press release about her expertise on the present, and revealed that he has been in contact together with her to supply his assist.
“What happened to Lucy was horrific and heartbreaking. When I was given the opportunity to speak to Lucy, I was able to personally tell her how sorry I was about everything she has been through,” he mentioned (by way of The Mirror).
“Although we met under tragic circumstances, a genuine friendship and a mutual respect has developed between us. Lucy is one of the most authentic, talented, and brave people I have ever met. Since we connected, I have had the honour to work with Lucy and I have always supported her wish to tell her story, as well as her efforts to bring about positive change.”
Spraggan additionally recalled what it was like when Cowell reached out to her in an interview with BBC Breakfast, claiming that his apology meant an excellent deal to her because it was one thing that nobody else provided.
“[He said:] ‘Lucy, before you or I say anything else, the first thing I need to tell you is that I am sorry’,” she defined, starting to get upset (by way of Metro). “It makes me emotional…because no one else said sorry. He wasn’t even on [the show during] my year – he wasn’t even a judge – and he as a human being gave me everything I needed in two words.”
The alleged lack of assist she acquired on the time is one thing that she first addressed when talking with The Guardian. “No one ever contacted me to ask if I was OK,” she mentioned. “No one called or emailed when the trial was over and he was convicted. No one offered me rehabilitation or ongoing mental health treatment. I was on my own.”
Simon Cowell attends the Britain’s Bought Expertise 2023 Photocall at London Palladium on January 27, 2023. Credit score: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty
Responding to Spraggan’s feedback, ITV issued a press release saying: “We have now the deepest compassion for Lucy and all the pieces she has endured because of this horrific ordeal. We commend her resilience and bravado.
“We have evolved and improved these oversight procedures since the events in question and we are encouraged to hear that Thames recognises the importance of continuous review and improvement of their own processes,” the broadcaster added. “In an event of such a distressing nature, welfare and support towards the victim would always be of the utmost priority.”
Moreover, a spokesperson for Fremantle, the British TV firm that produced The X Issue described her expertise as “truly horrific” and mentioned that “whilst we believed throughout that we were doing our best to support Lucy in the aftermath of the ordeal, as Lucy thinks we could have done more, we must therefore recognise this.”
Asserting her memoir on social media, Spraggan went on to explain the method of writing the autobiography as “freeing” and marking “the beginning of a new era”. She additionally thanked followers for his or her continued assist as she goes to take “a break” from social media.
Course of: Discovering My Method Via by Lucy Spraggan, is out now by way of Bonnier Books and could be bought right here.