One of the favourites to win [British show] The Voice has become the victim of racist internet trolls.
The BBC called in police to investigate after Ruth Brown, 20, received a deluge of vile remarks on Twitter targeting her skin colour, appearance and weight.
The singer said she sobbed when she read the comments. Some users even made derogatory remarks about her father, Lloyd, who died of stomach cancer days before she auditioned for the show.
From the article (I am purposefully leaving out the transcription of the racist insults and those related to her appearance, though):
She has now spoken out about the growing problem of online bullying and racism. ‘Not only have I endured jibes of a racist nature but sick comments about my weight,’ she said in an interview yesterday.
‘Things have been said about my dad, too. At first, I was upset and cried my heart out. But I want to speak out because I hope it will encourage other people to fight back against bullies.’
She also defiantly reposted some of the hateful remarks on her own account to bring attention to the trolls, but the BBC has since asked her to take them down. They have been recorded as evidence.[…]
The BBC has also provided the aspiring star with a counsellor. Miss Brown, whose voice has been compared to Aretha Franklin’s, is mentored by Sir Tom Jones.
Watch her here KILL IT during her audition, with her rendition of When Love Takes Over. Also, Sir Tom freaking Jones is mentoring her? Racists lose, she wins.
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