Rebecca Ferguson supports X Factor’s Katie Waissel over sexual assault claim

Rebecca Ferguson has expressed her support for former X Factor star Katie Waissel, who claimed she was sexually assaulted. 

Katie, 35, appeared in the 2010 series of the ITV singing competition and alleges that she was sexually assaulted by a member of the X Factor team. 

Reacting to Katie’s claims, Rebecca tweeted on Saturday night: ‘.@katiewaissel24 I stand with you and every woman who who [sic] has the courage to speak out and tell their truth.’ 

The I Hope singer also shared explanations of rape culture, as well as a quote from Angelina Jolie, which read: ‘We must send a message across the world that there is no disgrace in being a survivor of sexual violence. The shame is on the aggressor.’ 

Rebecca, 34, was apparently aware that Katie’s allegations would be made public, as she had recently warned her followers to expect a big announcement to be made. 

‘A huge story is coming out this weekend a victim has spoken out,’ she tweeted on Friday. 

‘Because of this reputation managers and crisis teams will be flooding the press with positive stories to manipulate public opinion and water down the truth! Don’t be fooled!’ 

‘We were naturally shocked at the allegations and wanted to do anything we could to help – so we asked her to lodge a complaint with us and detail the allegations for that purpose. In the interim we suspended the accused.

‘Despite a number of requests to Katie asking her to detail the claims to us, she chose not to make a complaint over his behaviour. As a result, and without other evidence to the contrary, we were obliged to accept his denial of the claims.

‘We, of course, remain ready and keen to investigate her claims if she so chooses to detail them to us and even though the alleged perpetrator no longer works for either Syco or Sony Music.’ 

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