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The former X Factor contestant told The Sunday Times that he plans to sue Simon Cowell’s company.
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Katie Weissel said she was retrained as a lawyer so she could take legal action against Psycho.
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Waissel said he sought treatment for PTSD after The X Factor, but Syco failed to do his duty of care.
Former X Factor contestants were retrained in law so they could sue Simon Cowell’s company over their experiences on the show, reports say.
Katie Weissel (36), who appeared in the British version of “X Factor” in 2010, told the Sunday Times of London She planned to take legal action against Syco Entertainment, alleging that they failed to fulfill their duty of care to her and the other contestants.
She told the newspaper that she was a hate figure at the show and had an acid attack and death threats after reaching the quarterfinals.
Waissel said he was not allowed to leave the house he lived in during the show and could barely eat or sleep, after which he sought treatment and counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder.
She told The Sunday Times that she decided to enroll at BPP University in London last year and graduated with a postgraduate law degree. This qualification allows her to work as a paralegal or undergo further training to become a lawyer.
“Many of us are very trapped and it’s not fair. There was a huge imbalance in power,” Weisel told the newspaper. “I just wanted to be able to understand [the contracts] And to protect people from being manipulated in the future. “
Waissel, who finished seventh, told The Sunday Times that contestants who were not legally classified as employees received a £1 token for appearing in a live show.
She said she plans to file a civil negligence personal injury lawsuit against Syco Entertainment, which is directed by Cowell. Weissel and her legal team reportedly sent invoices to the company.
Waissel must persuade the judge to waive the statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits.
The X Factor was produced by Syco subsidiary Simco and Freemantle TV. Freemantle TV told The Sunday Times that it has “strong means” to support contestants, with “no time limit for aftercare once the show has aired.”
The X Factor has made contestants stars in both the US and UK, including One Direction, Little Mix and Camila Cabello. However, the show, which ended in the UK in 2018, has come under intense scrutiny for how it treats contestants.
In August, an unnamed source told Mirror that she and five other former contestants Approaching law firm to file lawsuit against SyCo.
“Your mental health was nobody’s concern. We were just pieces in their game. “Right now I’m very unreliable, emotional, nervous and full of anxiety.”
Syco and Freemantle did not immediately respond to an Insider’s request for comment.
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