Interesting that she has no wider examples of racism in the music industry like Alexandra did.

 

I think the biggest reason for this is the fact Alex is a dark-skinned woman (same as Misha B, Keisha) and the colourism that plays a massive part here.

I think the biggest reason for this is the fact Alex is a dark-skinned woman (same as Misha B, Keisha) and the colourism that plays a massive part here.

 

Also Leona was widely seen as a humble, unassuming, shy young woman who was unaware of her talent. That British public don't like their women of colour being too confident or self-assured.

I think the biggest reason for this is the fact Alex is a dark-skinned woman (same as Misha B, Keisha) and the colourism that plays a massive part here.

Yes, agree with that. And perhaps she doesn't feel ready or able to tell those stories if they exist.

I didn't buy her albums (although her singles were all bops) but I've always had the opinion that Alexandra is one of the most talented performers this country has ever produced. She was insanely good on X-Factor. It was actually scary how even on the very first live show she looked ready to be performing in arenas and stadiums.

 

To know that she only had one year of success before being tossed aside is such a f***ing waste of talent. She should have been THE pop star of the 10's.

Also Leona was widely seen as a humble, unassuming, shy young woman who was unaware of her talent. That British public don't like their women of colour being too confident or self-assured.

 

That post definitely sums up Leona. It’s very much how I’d describe her even to this day.

 

I will say Leona had unkind things said about her but very much on the opposite scale of Alex in that Leona was too boring / too beige / uninteresting.

 

She ended up guest judging on X Factor too although her stint wasn’t as controversial as Alex’s as it hardly got any coverage.

Leona didn’t judge a live show so there wouldn’t be scrutiny, would there?

 

Also those names she was called mostly cropped up on forums rather than the press going in for the attack.

 

 

However you try and spin it, Alexandra did not bring the treatment on herself.

It's incredibly sad to look back on Alexandra's career with the information we now know from that video. The odds were always stacked against her. :( I (perhaps naively as a 14 year old) was sure she'd be Britain's answer to Beyonce after she won. To think even her labels and management companies had little faith in her commercial viability is upsetting. I couldn't understand at the time how her career went south so quickly from the first to the second album. Obviously RCA being a broke label was a reason but to scrap an R&B-leaning pop album for a low-budget collection of faceless eurodance songs... especially when 'All Night Long' was the best received track from her debut era!

Did anyone listen to Alex's appearing on Elizabeth Day's How To Fail podcast? It literally made me tear up, she talks about a lot of things including the racism and the editor who spread lies about her week after week during her Strictly stint. Dan Wootton really is the lowest of low, almost Perez Hilton like, and he should be ashamed of himself.

Dan Wooton gets away with FAR TOO MUCH.

Dan is absolutely infuriating, hopefully GB News can mark the end of his career

I just don't understand how that guy can sleep at night. Obviously no one deserves it, but especially Alex, who is probably one of the nicest and most genuine people in the business!

Dan Wooton gets away with FAR TOO MUCH.

 

Agreed. I'm surprised he hasn't lost his job or been sued over the stuff he constantly comes out with! It's horrendous.

Alexandra is a part of Leigh-Anne's 'Race, Pop & Power' documentary which is on the iPlayer right now or tonight on BBC One at 9pm (BST).

 

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Looking forward to hearing what she has to say!

I’m hoping there’s someway for people outside the UK to watch this.