14 DAY TRIAL // The X Factor situation has just gotten a bit more complicated: hours after getting the boot from the show, Gamu Nhengu has been told she and her mother need to return to Zimbabwe or risk deportation. They can’t appeal the decision.
At the same time, rumors have emerged saying the only reason Cheryl Cole has decided not to include Gamu among her 3 favorites, or choose her for her wild card, was because she was told so by producers.
They, it would seem, did not want unnecessary complications because of the girl’s uncertain immigration status, the Daily Mail informs, citing reports in the British media.
This last aspect has only served to make Gamu’s many supporters even more furious that she wasn’t included in the final 12, where many believe she deserved to be – unlike, say, Cher Lloyd whose most recent performance was below par, they say.
Some of these supporters have even taken to sending Cheryl death threats, which are now being investigated by police in collaboration with the X Factor producers.
“Yesterday [Gamu] was told she must leave Britain altogether. Her family have just days to return to their home country of Zimbabwe – or face deportation,” the Mail writes.
Gamu and her brother moved to the UK 8 years ago with their mother who, all throughout their stay in the country, is believed to have claimed child tax credit and working tax credit.
She wasn’t entitled to do so, as she was supposed to provide for herself and her children, and not benefit from government money.
She applied to have her stay extended in August, with the response coming back on Monday and delivering the sad news: her petition had not been approved and she and the kids had only a couple of days to leave the country.
“Thank you so much to everyone. I’m overwhelmed by the support. The whole experience has been amazing and I’m doing fine. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” Gamu said yesterday.
At the same time, it has emerged that Cheryl Cole’s decision to axe Gamu had nothing to do with her performance in the last audition – but neither with racism, as it was claimed yesterday.
It seems Cole was instructed by the producers of the show not to let Gamu through, which has sparked a new wave of complaints with ITV – and even call for boycotts for the show.
“ITV received 600 complaints after the Mail revealed how judge Cheryl Cole was told by producers not to pick the singer because of doubts over her immigration status,” the Mail says.
“Yesterday, thousands of viewers even threatened to boycott the show’s lucrative voting phone lines unless she was brought back on the show,” reads the same report.
Cheryl Cole is believed to be very “saddened” by the latest developments, both by allegations of racism and how her name has been tarnished by supporters of the aspiring singer.