Alexandra Burke is afraid to cry in front of other people following negative backstage Strictly rumours as she believes people will think her tears are not real.
The former X Factor winner has found herself at the centre of criticism for her apparent difficult behaviour whilst taking part in BBC ballroom dance contest Strictly Come Dancing but insists reports are not true.
Pop star Alexandra has been accused of “faking” tears as she was praised by the judges on the show recently.
The musician admits she is struggling with people’s harsh views on her and is now growing fearful of people’s reactions to her.
She told the Radio Times: “Twitter seems to have given people permission to be incredibly hurtful. They don’t seem to realise that I have feelings and get upset.
“The saddest thing is that I started the show completely myself - my joy and my tears were 100 per cent genuine, however much people said they were fake - but I’m now so self-conscious, I try not to react at all in case people say, ‘Oh, look, here are the fake tears again.’”
Alexandra rose to fame in 2008 and, living in the public eye, she is used to people not warming to her, but she says she has never experienced so much hatred before.
She said: “I have struggled with some of the public’s reaction. I’ve had my fair share of negative press since winning The X Factor nine years ago, but I’ve never experienced anything like this.”
Alexandra and her professional dance partner Gorka Marquez are set to perform in Strictly’s semi-final this weekend.