Lucy Spraggan, a former X Factor contestant, has revealed that she was raped by a hotel porter in 2012 while competing on the ITV talent show. The 31-year-old singer recounted the harrowing experience in her memoir, Process: Finding My Way Through, detailing how she was drugged and assaulted after a night out celebrating a fellow contestant’s birthday. She said that she felt let down by ITV, criticizing the production team’s handling of the situation, particularly their failure to provide adequate support after her attacker was convicted.
Spraggan explained that she was celebrating Rylan Clark’s birthday at a Mayfair nightclub, which was attended by members of the X Factor production team. She recalled feeling drunk and disoriented, and later waking up in her hotel room with a sense of sheer dread, realizing she had been raped. Despite the production team calling the police and an arrest being made, Spraggan felt that they were “unprepared” to deal with the aftermath of the assault.
The singer said that she received financial and medical support in the immediate aftermath but was abandoned after her attacker was convicted, with no one contacting her to ask if she was okay or offering ongoing support. She also revealed that she was not given any support after her exit from the show, citing illness, but was actually suffering from a side effect of a drug used to prevent HIV.
Spraggan’s decision to speak out now is a attempt to rebuild herself and move on, acknowledging that it was the truth she needed to tell. The singer has since gone on to have two top-10 albums in the UK charts, but the experience has left a lasting impact on her life.
Lucy Spraggan (Via Lucy Spraggan/Twitter)
ITV has issued a statement expressing their deepest compassion and commending Spraggan’s resilience and bravery. The channel acknowledged that they had evolved and improved their oversight procedures since the events in question, ensuring that there are appropriate measures in place to support contributors before, during, and after filming.
Both ITV and Fremantle, the TV company that produced The X Factor, have apologized for their handling of the situation, recognizing that they could have done more to support Spraggan. Fremantle’s spokesperson acknowledged that they had worked hard to learn lessons from the events and improve their aftercare processes.
Spraggan’s courageous decision to speak out serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing the well-being of contestants on reality TV shows. It also highlights the need for greater awareness and support for survivors of sexual assault, as well as the importance of acknowledging the long-term impact of traumatic experiences on individuals.
The incident serves as a wake-up call for the entertainment industry, emphasizing the need for stronger duty of care procedures to ensure that contestants feel safe and protected throughout their time on the show. As Spraggan noted, it is only by sharing her story that she can begin to rebuild herself and move forward, and her bravery should be applauded and recognized.
