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E-mailIs Susan Boyle being poorly managed?
Published Saturday, January 16, 2010, 8:39 AM
Updated Saturday, January 16, 2010, 8:45 AM
Susan Boyle is under enormous pressures.
"A source close to Miss Boyle said she felt she was being pulled in different directions by her managers – Andy Stephens, who used to work with George Michael, U2's former accountant Ossie Kilkenny and one of her nieces, Kirsty.
"The source added: “No wonder Susan may be a bit frazzled – it's all a bit too much to take in.”
This above quote is from The Daily Mail, which is usually accurate enough in their sourcing of stories.
If this is the case then I'm very much afraid that Susan Boyle is not in good hands.
The incident at London Airport this week reflects badly on everyone. Clearly Susan is under enormous stress and pressure, zigzagging the globe: Japan on New Year's, appearances in Britain, now back to America and so on. This may simply be too much pressure on her.
The expectations are enormous and increasingly unfair. She has delivered to her management and backers and then some. It hardly seems the decent thing to have her flying from pillar to post to achieve precisely what? A few more record sales?
Susan clearly has issues, anyone catapulted to worldwide fame from anonymity a year ago inevitably would have. She has extra pressures because of a sheltered life and learning disabilities as a child. Exposing her full blast to world media scrutiny and a hectic travel schedule is not advisable.
This is no time to be showcasing her all over the world. What will her backers gain if she is unable to cope with all the demands on her?
Irish singer Enya is a worldwide phenomenon yet rarely leaves her Irish home. Her extraordinary voice carries her success. Susan Boyle could be a very similar phenomenon.
Personally I don't care if she never appears on this side of the water again, as long as her extraordinary voice continues to captivate in the years ahead. In Susan's case it is now clear that less is more. Management needs to learn that message.
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Posted by polison on Jan 30, 2010, 12:49 AM ESTI agree with Niall that Susan is not properly managed. Her home was invaded not once but twice. Simon Cowell offered her free holiday after stalker shock as a way to repair damage.
Posted by lovemusic on Jan 17, 2010, 02:33 PM EST
GillianX ~ The personal accounts that you posted on here are what started this whole firestorm of negative press for Susan. What purpose does it serve to propogate this smut? Those are the opinions and perceptions of individuals who do not have Susan's best interests at heart. I'm not trying to cover up the truth, but consider the fact that the poster on the BA forum began his posts with the statement, "that b**** Susan Boyle" and what can you conclude about his ensuing statements? Is there going to be any truth? Any compassion? Any sense of humor? Anything positive at all?? I don't think so. AND you are making a big deal of ONE person's opinion of Susan's laugh??? How ludicrous is that???!!! As I previously posted, Susan's team has issued a brief statement concerning the "incident" at the airport, as follows: "Although the situation happened, it was taken completely out of context and blown out of proportion. Susan was joking and entertaining various passengers who were awaiting flights, singing, joking and laughing. There was no breakdown or anything remotely like that." http://forum.susan-boyle.com/175962-post29.html I think someone in that BA VIP Lounge was seriously lacking a sense of humor!
Posted by SusaBawesome! on Jan 17, 2010, 01:42 PM EST
O'DOWD your January 17th updated version of this story is no more true than this version. You have joined the Daily Mail in another way by only allowing comments that sing your praises and restore you to a truth teller in their eyes. Irish Central is nothing more than a gossip column just like the British Tabloids that has to censor its readers to save face with themselves. You degraded Susan Boyle is this article and writing an article that favors her the next day that still has no credible sources does not change that.
Posted by cherokeehippie on Jan 17, 2010, 12:36 PM EST
This is what I posted at Susan's official website forum..a message to Susan!...but I thought others would like to see it, too!
HI Susan!!! I love you and just want to say keep on being your beautiful self!!! I LOVE you for being YOU!!! Don’t let anyone try to change you!!! Don’t take nae cr*p from any fuddy duddy stick in the mud lemon sucking negative stuffy types out there!!! Keep on being that beautiful butterfly that won’t be hemmed in!!!
(if the story is true about you being angry at a PA for this…) I would have done the same thing if I had a PA tell me I need to lose weight! I would have told them to “F” off, too!! Susan, don’t let them break you. Go at it! Girl!!! I love you just the way you are!!!! Don’t let them change you!!! (I have similar background as you..born with slight disability, too) We are not retards and we won’t put up with their condescending garbage!! ANd those fuddyduddies ...if they can’t tell that you was just having innocent fun with the mop, then they can go suck on lemons!
Posted by LuckyLil on Jan 17, 2010, 12:25 PM EST
I am very upset at the British media for causing so much drama. When she was to appear on BGT, they hounded her every move reporting she was cursing and calling for her cat Pebbles, they just would not leave her alone. Then she came to N.Y. and they reported that she was sucking her thumb and crying. What they didn't report was that she had just received a quilt that was put together specially for her by people from 28 different nations. This really overwhelmed her. Then she had an interview with her fans and said she would be taking "baby steps" and then illustrated how babies suck their thumbs. This was left out of the tabloid edition. Now I am sure she was only trying to have some fun while she was waiting for her plane, I believe this was blown way out of proportion again by the British media. I hope to God they are not trying to push her over the edge. Why have they not learned from the death of Princess Diana?
Posted by chrisindc on Jan 17, 2010, 12:12 PM EST
Important to note that she was asked to sing by other passengers waiting, and that they joined in on the fun. I don't recall such outrage, shock and censure over others such as Robin Williams/Jim Carrey/Jerry Lewis etc...
And she got back in the guys face that rudely told them to stop. Hardly a cause for such concern.
Posted by ArielAZ on Jan 17, 2010, 11:27 AM EST
Thanks, GillianX. Just read the BA chat account. I'm a devoted SusaFan, but I believe in knowing the truth and dealing with it sensibly. From the reports in the Blackburn cafe, the Edinburgh airport and the Heathrow BA lounge it seems the problem is Susan's P.A., Kristy, her niece, who is a fairly new appointee and obviously not up to the job.
Posted by MalcomAC on Jan 17, 2010, 11:03 AM EST
Let's not over-estimate the value of complete sanity to singers. You look at a list of the great singers of the past 50 years and only a handful could be described as 'normal'. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to go on stage with only a microphone for protection whether they be a singer, comedian or politician. Barbra Streisand and Carly Simon decided they just couldn't do it except under laboratory conditions, as it were. Boyle - and her staff - have been tossed into the deep end of the pool and are still finding their stroke. And, let's also look at the things Boyle does very well: over the holidays she paid visits to two area schools and was terrific in both cases and got the kind of press PR types dream about. Check out the article in the West L paper and the photographs, etc. The trip to the primary school didn't seem to make the major tabloids. The Scotsman also reports she was at the New Year's Day reception at the Cardinal's residence, and, again, was fine. So, there you go.
Posted by davidmakes on Jan 17, 2010, 08:04 AM EST
It as now been said by Susan's people that it did happen, biut not all of it is true. If i was in that airport area and paid loads of money for a seat with BA, i would also put a complaint in with BA as its just not the done thing in the UK. She's a crack-pot and should be sectioned.
Posted by belfastjames on Jan 17, 2010, 06:14 AM EST
Trennie, is that all you can do. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Just been reading the "Susan's Daydream Believers" and what you take part in. Its full of innuendos about Susan Boyle and her so called crush on Piers Morgan. Where you and many of you pals have Susan in a relationship with him and others. But when Piers Morgansaid he was engagement you all turned on him. One day the press will get hold of this and will turn it onto Susan. But then you will blame the press for it but no one else. Your just like young kids in a playground.
Posted by GillianX on Jan 17, 2010, 04:38 AM EST
If you want an eyewitness account posted *as it was happening*, do a search for "celebs on BA" and read HighLife's posts beginning on p.126 at #1882, thru 1914. Susan was being disruptive off and on for over an hour. Finally a man came (Andy S.?) and took her away. She had been spotted earlier in the morning in the Edinburgh airport acting "very wacky indeed," accompanied only by a very meek woman who did nothing at all (see ediYank's post 1909).
Now go back and take a look at post 1859 when she flew to Japan on Dec. 28. Notice that both these episodes were on flights TO a performance - there are no reports of strange behavior on the way HOME. Seems pretty obvious that it's stress-induced. She has said that she knows she needs the support of good people around her when she's "acting a bit funny." For anyone who thinks she's just having a lark: why is she paying Andy to (literally) hold her hand and calm her down if it's all in fun??
It's also illuminating to read this comment by someone who was standing outside Oprah's studio:
"At one point Susan Boyle came out the doors nearest to us with a few people and a guard... I said to Luke "......... Wait is that Susan Boyle?! Wtf is that Susan Boyle omg omg omg" so it was too late for pictures lol She went to the restaurant across the street called La Sardine. Sooner or later she came back out laughing like a maniac. It was scary. She wouldn't stop it. I tried to record some of it... Seriously it went on for SO LONG."
Put these four accounts together, you see what stress does to her. Her trips need to be better planned if they want to avoid these kinds of stories.
Posted by JolyJoly on Jan 17, 2010, 03:33 AM EST
Given that this article is based on untruth, I hope you will withdraw it, as the caption gives untruth a lingering "ok". Irish Central has a reputation to maintain, hopefully a non-tabloid one.
Posted by JolyJoly on Jan 17, 2010, 03:31 AM EST
I'm not understanding what's wrong here, that you are casting aspersions on Susan's management, which has been stupendous in every way. The distortions in the tabloid reports of this non-incident are what's wrong. "So what else is new," it's par for the course with tabloids.
Susan is entitled to joke around, so please keep the blame where it belongs. I don't recall that she has stated any desire to remain at home. Susan has made it quite clear that she loves to travel and see her fans, and she is able to determine her schedule. There are bound to be stresses, but there is no evidence they are too much. If they ever are, I am confident Susan and her team are fully intelligent enough to figure it out.
Posted by Puck101 on Jan 17, 2010, 01:29 AM EST
Yeah I agree the pressure is enormous and very sudden. And the press and often off-base speculation on her private life is horrendous. I hope she does have a chance to work with and befriend other artists. Maybe keep the personal stuff on the down-lo from now on and enjoy her creative freedoms and new found pals that she might be able to connect with in ways only like-mindeds can. After all most of us have professional colleague buddies that we kick around with.
Posted by lovemusic on Jan 17, 2010, 01:25 AM EST
News Flash to All: One of Susan's team members sent an e-mail to a forum staff member to clarify this incident. The statement from her team is as follows:
"Although the situation happened, it was taken completely out of context and blown out of proportion. Susan was joking and entertaining various passengers who were awaiting flights, singing, joking and laughing. There was no breakdown or anything remotely like that."
http://forum.susan-boyle.com/news-articles/5238-report-possible-truth-about-airport-incident-3.html#post175962
Posted by shirleyo on Jan 17, 2010, 01:22 AM EST
hey...anyone read in U.K. Daily Record this evening?: "AN MTV show in which Lady Gaga let rip with bad language mid-performance while encouraging an audience to dance has been rapped by the broadcasting watchdog.The outlandish star was featured on MTV Live: Isle of MTV music festival, airing from 4pm in November last year.
The singer urged the audience: "Put your hands up in the air and dance, you mother*******".
Case in point: The media and public will always deem something scandalous to write about star misbehavior. Lady GaGa let rip bad language and was characterized as outlandish. I doubt those type of reports will diminish her fan support or stall her career.
Posted by MalcomAC on Jan 17, 2010, 12:59 AM EST
Well, where to start? Okay, I'll go where no one's gone on this thread...one of the things unique to her situation - which cannot be overcome by any sort of management team - is that every time Boyle opens her mouth to sing, the pressure is on her to be letter perfect. Think about it, before April 9th Boyle spent her evenings eating beans on toast and watching "Countdown" or "Simpson's" repeats. Within ten days - TEN DAYS - the clip of her has been viewed millions of times like no other clip before it. Within those ten days - after the Cry Me A River recording hits Youtube and almost breaks it - both The Guardian and the LA Times say that Boyle should sing the next Bond theme. The Times of London suggests she sing "God Save the Queen" at the London Olympics. She's the closest thing to Streisand Britain's produced in decades. It's not just about being famous - it's the pressure to be The Best. Add to that the ugly press she received and efforts to remake her and it's as huge a transformation as you'll see outside a terrarium. The Beatles' fame actually came gradually. Her's was overnight and she did it without any Brian Epstein or three other Beatles to help her through it. Go back and listen to interviews with the Beatles about what their lives were like after they hit the US. They were shellshocked. I do wonder at all the flying. I know that would get to me. I'm convinced that the members of her team have her best interests at heart, but, ultimately, they're a committee, and committees can make bad decisions.
Posted by Puck101 on Jan 17, 2010, 12:35 AM EST
Well said lovemusic. The term Susan used herself needs no other fancy qualification. And considering the extent that fans follow SB news, if they used any rational thought at all, including comments by both Pears and her voice coach, who described Susan as bright and quick on the uptake, they'd figure out it was relegated to a certain aspect of learning. Which isn't all that unusual. But NO. Lets poke around in areas of someone else's life which in reality require no further discussion or probing and discuss and probe it anyway. And Marjenda, since when do WE have to face the truth... and I mean ANY truth, as laid out by a tabloid? And since when did "feisty" devolve into cracking up. "Hey no context in MY life."... "I love you, now let me destroy you." Sheesh with fans like this....
Posted by shirleyo on Jan 17, 2010, 12:02 AM EST
Marjenda....very good thinking. I totally agree. To add: there are and will forever be multitudes of media points of view. With phones that take pictures of excess fat, hairy chests, somebody kissing someone they're "not supposed to.." etc. etc. many a star has been 'attacked' or been misrepresented. Every T.V.,movie,stage star knows it does happen. Knowing their own truths, they learn to live with it. Susan will, if she hasn't already, learn too. What I gather is her friends and family keep her real and grounded. You're right suggesting her fans need not get high blood pressure over tabloid idiocies. Those of us who thoroughly enjoy Susan's music will always be disgusted with tabloid crap directed at her. Fans will have a lot of different opinions and judgments. It's that way for any choice of favorite celebrities. Personally, I don't think Tom Cruise is as great a talent as many do. His looks don't make him an actor; and I wouldn't be interested in arguing the point. I just have a different point of view than some. Susan is going to have her professional career in spite of those who've chosen to malign her.
Posted by Marjenda on Jan 16, 2010, 11:33 PM EST
Wow!So many different points of view. One thing remains cyrstal clear. When Susan sings she is who she was born to be. That alone will carry her to her destiny. Away from the mic...well...Susan will be Susan and we all have different opinions. I love Susan Boyle and I will support her through thick and thin. I ache when I read some of these article but there is some truth to them. WE have to face the truth and except Susan for who she is, that be including her actions which will get her into hot water occassionally. I'm not saying any of it's true. What I am saying as did Piers Susan is a fiesty lady. Susan will figure out her path in due time incountering a few bumps in the road. I am confident she will remain on top and do it her way and having fun the whole way. I do agree with the Blackburn fan...some of the 'up in your face' fans are getting to be tiresome. Just saying!
Posted by leslie2277 on Jan 16, 2010, 11:20 PM EST
I say: "You too Niall?" Amazing that you would consider this story to be factually based given the lack of pictures. IF Susan was seen anywhere we would be bombarded by pictures - especially if she were in such a state.
Until now I have kept quiet and just 'read' about the tabloids' newest venture into the land of make believe...
We live in a technological age when cops can be photographed when they mistreat citizens in the middle of a almost deserted street and citizens can capture terrorists flying into NYC skyscrapers surely to goodness fellow travelers would have taken pictures of Susan Boyle no matter what she did.
There are no pictures.
It did not happen - except in someone's twisted mind, IMHO.
The end.
Posted by bluestreak on Jan 16, 2010, 09:35 PM EST
Is Susan Boyle being poorly managed? I'd say just the opposite. I think her team loves her just as much as her fans, the "Praetorian Guard of thousands". Artistically she's blossoming. What a voice! (I love the idea that she have her own song writer). And she's having a whale of a time. The tabloid chatter doesn't stop, but it is so ridiculous that you can only laugh. As Rumi says "The dogs bark and the caravan moves on."
Posted by dublingausafan on Jan 16, 2010, 09:11 PM EST
susan boyle is quite a lively lady. she seems to love to give her audience a grin. I think she probably is having the time of her life traveling and performing and interacting with the public. Now if she really were to give a show with a little silly mop some of us would be tickled at her engtertainment. she seems to want to join in with whatever the situation prompts..The tabloids are famous for their fabrications so i don't believe what they say but they probably are keeping susan boyle's name in the public eye and helping her with publicity. she seems to be with us for a while and i am glad. I think her biggest draw to her audience is not only her beautiful voice but in the personal way she delivers the message of the song- Her audience loves to see her as well as hear her.Susan boyle the spicy Scott whom the world adores.She has my respect.
Posted by SusaBawesome! on Jan 16, 2010, 08:52 PM EST
I'm beginning to think that Niall O'dowd is being sponsored by the Daily Mail famous worldwide for fake pictures and 100% made up stories about Susan Boyle and so are the other papers over there. There is a small group of American fans from a certain fanclub that are full of themselves and it's no secret who they are since they are determined to be in everyone's face constantly but that is no excuse to jump on the UK Susan Boyle is brain damaged heading for a breakdown because of America bandwagon. Susan Boyle is having the time of her life as far as she has told the public. Someone here mentioned in a previous post that Susan has not performed in the UK other than her December special and the radio interview. Why would she when she is made fun of by the UK press on a daily basis? Leona Lewis was punched in the face by some nut over there and she isn't even slammed in the press from what I can tell. Susan is attacked multiple times a day in the UK press so it seems like she has more to worry about in the UK than any place else in the world. I don't know about her own country but the rest of the world adores Susan Boyle and she seems to love the positive reassuring attention she gets from her fans around the world.
Posted by lovemusic on Jan 16, 2010, 08:38 PM EST
KathyMu ~ Susan can use whatever words she wants to describe herself, but we should be very careful in what words we use to describe her concerning any potential disability. We cannot absolutely say that she has any kind of disability with any authority because we do not know. For people to attribute any of her behaviors to a supposed disability (learning or otherwise) without knowing that she has a specific disability is grossly inaccurate and irresponsible. Most people cannot speak on authority about any of this and it shouldn't even be discussed.
Posted by lovemusic on Jan 16, 2010, 08:36 PM EST
KathyMu ~ Susan can use whatever words she wants to describe herself, but we should be very careful in what words we use to describe her concerning any potential disability. We cannot absolutely say that she has any kind of disability with any authority because we do not know. For people to attribute any of her behaviors to a supposed disability (learning or otherwise) without knowing that she has a specific disability is grossly inaccurate and irresponsible. Most people cannot speak on authority about any of this and it shouldn't even be discussed.
Posted by SusanJapanfan on Jan 16, 2010, 07:54 PM EST
No amount of garbage news will diminish my love for Susan.
Posted by vincentruane on Jan 16, 2010, 07:04 PM EST
Susan Boyle's management needs to contact the lyric writer of Jeff Conlon's Evergreen Ireland and Carmel Sweet Carmel to write original lyrics for her. She needs to be singing her own signature songs like Paddy Reilly sings the Fields of Athenry.
Posted by Respectfully on Jan 16, 2010, 06:46 PM EST
If you can’t get uptight once in a while, you wouldn’t be human. However, if Susan is annoyed in the least, she’s having a ‘meltdown’ - which it seems she has on every ‘American’ tour. Ironic the Japan tour was a hundred times more demanding - but complete silence on any problems there! Could it be her behavior is more dramatic and sells more print in ‘America’ than in Japan? All stars should have it as easy as Susan! No way would Susan be wondering around Heathrow airport alone. Her Manager, Andy Stephens, is at her side at every step when she is touring. Are we to believe someone, who is yet to be identified and who just happened to have a mop, showed up at the same time as Susan, and helped calm her down until her flight departed – and yet no mention of her Manager or bodyguards anywhere! You never see Susan on tour without her Manager at her side, yet in this story, he’s nowhere to be found, not even her bodyguards or any Team member! Come on! No one on Susan’s Team is that careless, especially when it’s his or her #1 priority to know where Susan is at all times. Sorry Niall, no one is buying this story - nothing in it makes sense. You let us down going along with the tabloids while the readers of your column are the real eyewitnesses, with real names, pointing out the real facts!
Posted by trennie on Jan 16, 2010, 06:28 PM EST
To belfast james: Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???? You've got to lay off those funny looking pills. You've got the wrong girl, sonny.
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