Former 'Voice' winner Leanne Mitchell has hit back at claims she was "lazy" after winning the show and claims she worked her "backside off" to make her debut album a success.
The singer sold just 895 copies of her self-titled LP in the first week of its release, and was accused by mentors Danny O'Donoghue and Sir Tom Jones of lacking the work ethic to make it as a pop star.
However, Leanne is adamant the claims are bogus and insists she is being made a "scapegoat" for the record's failure.
Leanne posted on her Twitter account: "Ever get the feeling you've been used as the scapegoat? I have had to read and listen to so much about me recently, and so far have kept quiet ... I have absolutely worked my backside off to WRITE this album, not copping out on all covers. And as some people have speculated, I absolutely wanted and still want to work for it. I have worked bloody hard since the age of 13 doing what I love, and felt that maybe it would have all been worth it for this past year. I wonder if everyone that has said/written negative things about me have even listened to the album? Again, unfortunately, I don't think anyone was particularly on my side from the start. I never wanted to speak up, as I suppose the next thing will be I'm 'bitter', which I'm not, at all. I LOVE being a singer, and music will always be everything to me, on whatever level that may be, and that makes me happy."
Danny had claimed the album's failure and late release date - it came out in May 2013, almost a year after she first won the BBC One talent show - was down to Leanne's lack of effort in the studio.
The Script frontman - who led this year's winner Andrea Begley to success in the final last weekend - said: "That's not my fault, that's not the show's fault, that's not the BBC's fault, that's just her fault. You can take an artist like that and question their work ethic.
"I was told by Tom Jones, and by the label as well, that Leanne just did not want to work as hard as you have to work to be a pop star. She wanted to come on a show and win a singing contest. That's good for her, because she won the show. But it's not good for the premise of the show."
Leanne, 29, is adamant she had the record ready in September and doesn't "know why it was decided to wait so long to release it"; insisting she put her trust in those working with her.
Despite the ongoing row, the 29-year-old singer said: "I still feel very lucky to have experienced what I have in the past year."
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