In defence of Katie Waissel and some other peons

I hate 'controversial' TV talent show contestants. They rarely live up to their end of the bargain and the reason they are usually such 'hate figures' is because of utterly nonsensical tabloid campaigning and often bizarre levels of sexism. Case in point:

Katie 'totally bloody evil' Waissel

Breathy voiced chanteuse Katie has been much maligned for her, vicious, evil ambition which is currently set at 'pop' but may well be adjusted to 'wipe out Senegal in a nuclear holocaust' at a moment's notice. Oh, don't get on the wrong side of this one... she'll rip your spleen out, force-feed it to Louis Walsh and sexually assault the nearest budgerigar. Hell, the Daily Mail even published an article claiming she may in fact be of a satanic origin.

Katie's crimes seem to be the following:

1. Being a bit kooky and therefore hard to relate to than say, the damp moppet of personality that is Rebecca Ferguson
2. Having actually tried to get into music before and having made heinous 'career steps' such as minor record deals, doing gigs or writing songs
3. Daring to have a panic attack when set upon by dozens of gurning X Factor fans, clutching their Heat magazines and monster munch grab bags, in an overly crowded Top Shop.
   
4. Wearing a fucking awful colander on her head in week 1 of the live shows (actually, that one there is NO defence for)

So, essentially for having tried to get into the 'biz' before and being a bit odd, Katie is a hate figure.

Let's now look at this man.

Matt 'home cooked dinner' Cardle

Matt has also been in a band. His band have released material. He has painted and decorated things. He is a 'lad' and seemingly the under-seasoned love-spawn of James Morrison, Jamie Oliver and a dog whistle. He is as ambitious as Katie but not slagged off. This could be because he likes to wear a hat on his head and not a colander. Some part of me can't help but wonder that a guy trying to 'make it' is an ambitious, hard-working bloke. A woman trying to make it must be some sort of sharpened harpie. Yes, I know that this is hardly a complex feminist ideology but it sure as hell makes for some easy headlines...

Anyway, before we forget other controversial folks, the Jedwards and Anne Widdecombe's of this world, we must not forget the few contestants who brought it on themselves. Par example:

Emily 'I'll cut your eyes out, yeah?' Nakanda

Ah yes, the tweenage songstress with a passion for hyper-violent happyslapping who was kicked out of X Factor in 2007. There's a hate-figure (though according to UN reports the UK is awful for stereotyping children in the media as thuggish little ASBOs so I am aware I am not currently being part of the solution, though I am illustrating a wider point about hate figures) if you need one, who might actually deserve some of the hate.

Ambition is not a crime. Being weird is not a crime. Assault is. So is wearing a colander on your head.

There. Context. Lovely.