'The Voice' UK Ruth Brown online racist abuse reported to police
Published May 6 2012, 16:27 BST | By Paul Millar
The Voice UK contestant Ruth Brown has become the victim of racist abuse on Twitter.The BBC has contacted police after a number of racial attacks were made against her on the social networking site sometime last week, according to the Daily Mail.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said there has been no progress on the matter.
The 20-year-old, a member of Sir Tom Jones's team, had already reacted to comments made about her size.
She wrote: "Ok I'm big, get over it. Not gonna lie those comments did hurt, but I'm getting my dream and have amazing support thank you all."
Brown, who has been compared to Aretha Franklin by mentor Tom Jones, has received an overwhelming amount of support from fans since the abuse.
She is currently the bookmakers' favourite to win the singing contest's inaugural series, which concludes later this month.
Let me give it to you from the perspective of a US citizen. Ruth Brown is being targeted precisely because she is such a strong contender. For the most part, I am warmed by truly palpable lack of racism in the British audiences I see on YouTube clips of BGT, X Factor UK, and the Voice. That that unfortunately, in the UK as in the the US, is not the whole population. Just as there are many Americans who refuse to accept Barack Obama as President because he is black, and would prefer any white alternative, there are likely people in the UK who want to see a white Voice UK contestant win, just because they're white. They may genuinely like other (white) contestants more, but they think it is ok to do anything they think will help their favorites. Unfortunately, they are too stupid to realize that for many, if not most, UK fans, they will only tarnish their own favorites. In conclusion, once again, my compliments to the UK audiences I see. I truly prefer to watch UK contests over the US versions for the warmth of the audiences - I prefer the personalities of the UK contestants as well. I know I sound like an Anglophile, but I'm not. I am passionate about being a US citizen. But neither country, for all of our advances, is free of racism and ignorance. However, Ruth Brown, and her fans, will have the last laugh, and, in keeping with the size of her heart, which is big, it will not be a small-minded laugh.
May 8th 2012 at 11:17am
To the twitter ****.... Ruth is a talented woman who will be a big star, and you won't be. That is all!
May 7th 2012 at 10:34am
As if this is still happening in 2012. Ruth should win to shut all the bigots up.
May 7th 2012 at 12:31am
Its disgusting how people think they can get away with typing whatever they want on twitter + thinking there will be no consequences. Really twitter needs to be properly regulated to stop all this stuff from happening.
May 6th 2012 at 10:45pm
calling someone ********.... not much better than racism
May 6th 2012 at 7:56pm