X Factor contestant Honey G has hit back at critics accusing her of being racist as “ridiculous”.
The 35-year-old singer, known for her re-workings of classic rap and hip hip numbers on the competition stage, insisted that promoting black music does not mean she is attacking black culture.
She told The Mirror that, out of all the criticism she has faced from disapproving viewers: “This was probably one of the most ridiculous things I have seen so far.
“Any allegations of me being racist are completely false.
“All that stuff to do with me attacking black culture is utterly ridiculous.”
Sound Check for this weeks live Show @MrsSOsbourne @TheXFactor @TheXFactorUSA @XtraFactor @XtraFactorLIVE pic.twitter.com/Suu8nhJyJa
— HONEY G – RAP ARTIST (@The_Honey_G) 28 October 2016
Read more: Strictly fears revealed! “Pigeons and seagulls are my hell!”
She continued: “I’ve never said anything racist or behaved in that way, just because I’m pushing music from a black origin doesn’t mean I’m attacking black culture.
“I think people are discriminating against me, they are using the race card against me.”
She made it through last week’s ‘diva’ round with a rendition of Vanilla Ice’s Ice, Ice Baby and will perform rapper Will Smith’s Men In Black for the programme’s special Halloween episode on Saturday.
A day before the show, Honey G revealed her plans to quit her day job as a recruitment manager to pursue a full time career as a global rap star.
And she has plenty of support behind her…
I just wanted to say how touched I am by the fan mail I received today. @MrsSOsbourne @TheXFactor @TheXFactorUSA @XtraFactor @XtraFactorLIVE pic.twitter.com/dU19zFlMkc
— HONEY G – RAP ARTIST (@The_Honey_G) 28 October 2016
But she was soon blasted by singer Sinitta, who branded her as a “fake”.
She told the Huffington Post: “Her mother has a middle class, English accent, she’s very pretty.
“She’s not at all ghetto, she doesn’t say ‘yo’ and ‘what’s up’ and everything.
“So I don’t know how Honey G has developed all these traits.
“I think she’s faking it, but I think she believes. I think she has reinvented herself as a black American ghetto rapper.”
Honey G, who has received support from acclaimed rap artist 50 Cent, responded that she has been involved with urban music “for years”, including working with radio station BBC 1Xtra.
Calling herself a “genuine artist,” she added: “I even studied music technology production at university so I’m not a bedroom producer, I’m a heavyweight.
“A middle-aged white woman rapping along to Dre and Tupac ain’t even close to being racist.”