Tom Jones embroiled in fat-shaming row after claiming the first Voice winner failed to break the chart due to her weight
- Veteran singer believes Leanne Mitchell failed to crack the charts due to weight
- He said she should have lost a few pounds but, instead, she ‘put on more weight’
- The Sex Bomb star’s fat-shaming comments are sure to provoke fury
Beaming for the cameras, and with a protective arm wrapped around his protegee, Sir Tom Jones promised to make Leanne Mitchell a star.
Five years on – and following a short-lived career – the veteran singer believes the reason the 33-year-old failed to crack the charts is because she refused to lose weight.
Now the 76-year-old Grammy award-winner has found himself at the centre of an extraordinary ‘fat-shaming’ row after accusing the first ever winner of the then BBC1 talent show, The Voice, of being too big.
Beaming for the cameras, and with a protective arm wrapped around his protegee, Sir Tom Jones promised to make Leanne Mitchell a star. Five years on the veteran singer believes the reason the 33-year-old failed to crack the charts is because she refused to lose weight
At the launch of the new series, which makes its debut on ITV tonight, Sir Tom said: ‘When she first came on the show, I thought about her trimming down a bit because she had gotten comfortable in this holiday camp and put on some weight'
He admitted suggesting she shed the pounds in the hope it would boost her career but, instead, she ‘put on more weight’.
Miss Mitchell, whose only album failed to make it into the top 100, is now back singing at holiday camps where she was originally discovered.
At the launch of the new series, which makes its debut on ITV tonight, Sir Tom said: ‘When she first came on the show, I thought about her trimming down a bit because she had gotten comfortable in this holiday camp and put on some weight.
‘She took the opportunity of winning The Voice but she put on more weight, got more comfortable with the boyfriend who then became her husband.’
The Sex Bomb star’s comments are sure to provoke fury.
Denise Hatton, chief executive of the National Council, which led the YMCA Be Real Campaign for body confidence, has accused the star of fat-shaming.
She said: ‘Success in music or in any other industry should not be dependent on your appearance.
Miss Mitchell, whose only album failed to make it into the top 100, is now back singing at holiday camps where she was originally discovered
‘To hear this challenged by someone of Sir Tom’s standing, from a TV show that prioritises voice above appearance, could have a damaging impact on young women’,
She added: ‘The current trend of fat-shaming does nothing but reinforce an unhelpful and potentially unhealthy ideal.’ Last night Mary George from Beat, the UK’s leading eating disorder charity, said: ‘Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with many contributing factors, and it isn’t helpful for individuals to be made to feel self-conscious on such a public platform as this.’
Jones, who was knighted for services to music in 2006, lines up alongside fellow judges will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and rocker Gavin Rossdale in the series which is, ironically, supposed to be purely about vocal ability. After winning the competition in 2012, and being mentored by the Welshman, Miss Mitchell’s career failed to reach the dizzying heights predicted.
Her debut single Run to You only hit number 45 in the charts, and within a year she was still living at her home near Lowestoft and back performing at holiday camps.
In August she tweeted a photo of herself performing at Warner’s Gunton Hall leisure complex in Suffolk.
Discussing her weight, the size 16 singer previously insisted she would never diet. She said: ‘I am happy as I am. Believe it or not I am fairly fit already so I am OK.’
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