CHER Lloyd has revealed she ‘lost her mind’ on The X Factor and was prescribed anti-depressants at 16 to cope.
Show legend Cher, 31, told how she “went to a dark place” after being portrayed as a villain during her time in the competition.
The singer rose to fame as a contestant on the ITV series in 2010. After impressing both the judges and viewers, she signed with Simon Cowell’s record label, Syco.
However, Cher left the label three years later, citing disagreements with Simon, 65, over her career direction and feeling unable to cope with the level of “control” imposed on her.
Now, speaking on Paul C. Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast, she has opened up about the profound impact the show had on her mental health.
Cher said she was “painted as the villain” by those in charge because she pushed back against negative attention.
She told the relationship expert: “I was oblivious, I truly believed that going on a show like The X Factor was gonna be just fun, fun, and I’m gonna get to sing, which is exactly what I wanted.
“It wasn’t just that. It was so much more.
“They have to entertain people, unfortunately it’s not just about the singing, and I think because I had such confidence and was such a presence at that time, I think that was a gateway into kind of giving me the character of the villain.
“I guess I was the villain that year, which tends to happen in reality TV, and I’m not saying that I was perfect because I definitely wasn’t.
“I think I struggled a lot on the show with how to deal with this instant fame, and people’s comments towards me and the negative attention.
“I didn’t know how to deal with it, but at the same time, I look back and I think I didn’t deserve half the stuff that happened to me, I definitely didn’t.
“And I’d feel the same if that was my daughter. If my daughter had to go through that, I’d pull her. One million percent.”
During her time on The X Factor, Cher was mentored by Cheryl, and despite her turbulent stint on the show, she said the singer was “nothing but good” to her.
Cher admitted she struggled with negative comments from viewers, saying she would “constantly bite back,” which made her feel like she had “lost all control” of her life.
She added that “tiny micro things”, such as being told to wear clothes she didn’t like by the show’s stylist, made her feel like she was “losing her mind”.
Cher said: “I didn’t feel like I had anyone to turn to. No one to talk to properly because they were on the show.
“So where do you go? I felt like I was watching myself from the outside and I was watching myself spiral. I was spiralling. I was angry, really, really angry, because all of a sudden it wasn’t fun anymore.”
When asked by Paul about the mental health support available to contestants at the time, Cher said there was a “team” on hand but added: “I was given antidepressants while on the show. I was 16 and I was prescribed antidepressants. I thought that was the norm. I guess this is showbiz.
“I felt like I had to because, was it gonna get better? Was it gonna stop? I don’t know.”
In her new single, Head Down, Cher also appears to take a swipe at Simon, singing: “You sold me the dream, I was just seventeen, chewed me up, spit me out.”
Cher added in the song: “All the tears I cried, you wasted my time and I still pay the price, I used to play your game and nothin’ seems to change.”
Previously, the mum of two took to TikTok to talk about her new release, which comes ahead of her performance at the Mighty Hoopla Festival this summer.
She said: “I wrote this song about when it feels like you’re the only one when it feels like you’ve hit a brick wall.
“The music industry can be dark at times.
“Some of the stories may never be told but mine is yours to hear.”
ITV has been contacted for comment.
CHER’S POP STORY
Cher’s second single, With Ur Love reached number four in October 2011.
The singer’s version of Want U Back in February 2012 reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Yet in 2013, Cher revealed that she had parted company with Simon and his record label, saying she couldn’t handle the level of “control” they wanted.
She said at the time: “I don’t really speak to him anymore. I left his label a year and a half ago and I got my record deal here [America]…
“I have a specific thing I am reaching for, so I have my own idea of how I’m going to get it. We all have a specific thing in life that we want to get to and I don’t deal very well with people having [control].
“I think he found me – I wouldn’t say disobedient – but a little bit [difficult].”
Cher Lloyd's career timeline
2010 – Cher, then 17, auditioned for The X Factor with a memorable version of Keri Hilson’s take on Soulja Boy’s Turn My Swag On
She got through to the final of the TV competition, but was eliminated in fourth position
February to April 2011 – Cher took part in The X Factor tour alongside nine other contestants from her series
It was also announced after The X Factor concluded that Cher had been signed by Simon Cowell’s Syco music.
July 2011 – Cher released her debut solo single Swagger Jagger and quickly hit number one on the British singles chart.
October 2011 – She signed to Logan Media Entertainment under the management of Craig Logan, John Black and Christie LaRocque
November 2011 – Cher dropped her debut album Sticks + Stones
December 2011 – She signed a record deal with L.A. Reid to Epic Records in the U.S.
March 2012 – Cher kicked off her Sticks + Stones tour
May 2012 – Cher’s debut US single Want U Back and rose to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
October 2012 – Cher dropped her second single Oath but it only reached number 73 in the Billboard Hot 100
April 2013 – Cher teamed up with Ne-Yo on single It’s All Good, which was released in June that year
November 2013 – Cher confirmed that she had left Syco following a disagreement with Cowell about her career path
May 2014 – She dropped her second studio album Sorry I’m Late and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart
November 2014 – It was confirmed that Cher had signed a new deal with the Universal Music Group, and was working on a third studio album
March 2016 – Cher posts a video on social media thanking fans for their “patience”
May 2017 – She revealed she’d signed with ie:music
April 2020 – Her last major music move came when she released her single Lost, alongside the music video
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