Susan Boyle’s idol Elaine Paige makes nasty comments about her


The Daily Mail has some incredibly bitchy, rude comments that Susan Boyle’s idol, Elaine Paige, made about Susan’s rise to success and talent. Susan of course mentioned Elaine Page, known as the queen of musical theater in the UK, as the singer she emulated during her audition on Britain’s Got Talent. Paige was previously very supportive of Boyle. She made an surprise appearance on the Today Show last July to congratulate Boyle and even performed a duet with her for the British TV special “I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story.” The claws are out now, though, and Paige is incredibly dismissive of Boyle, her singing ability, and her massive rise to fame. Jealousy is not an attractive trait:

Miss Paige, who boasts 40 years in showbusiness and a £12million fortune, has haughtily dismissed the instant success of the Britain’s Got Talent runner-up as ‘a virus that swept the world’.

When asked if she was happy about what the 48-year-old Scottish spinster had achieved, Miss Paige replied: ‘I don’t particularly feel any pride for her – I’m sure she is proud of what she has done.’

Speaking at the South Bank Awards, she added: ‘It’s all about turning someone into an immediate celebrity at the expense of longevity and working hard and experience.

‘Susan Boyle is doing terribly well considering she literally came to the attention of the world overnight with the advent of YouTube.

‘She was like a virus really that spread across the world in a nanosecond.

‘She is a girl with no experience of anything to do with theatrics, the music business, or art in any way.

‘She has done terribly well to be a major star overnight with YouTube.’

But Miss Boyle’s popularity on the Internet has translated into three million album sales, making I Dreamed A Dream the fastest selling debut album for a female artist.

She also has a huge following in the U.S.

Asked if she thought her success would last, Miss Paige replied: ‘That’s a good question. She is a major star because of YouTube. Longevity is gained through knowledge, experience and effort so it will remain to be seen.

‘When I started, YouTube didn’t exist but even then with 15 years of experience prior to my success with Evita it was difficult, so I admire the way she handled her sudden success.

‘Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor just take a bunch of people from real life who think they can sing and try and turn them into overnight “stars” with a couple of songs.

‘Ha ha. It’s not entertainment.’

[From The Daily Mail]

Paige has responded to these quotes, which she claims were taken out of context. The Daily Mail can really warp and twist people’s words, so that’s entirely possible. It doesn’t sound like she’s denying saying this at all, just that she’s saying it wasn’t as harsh as it seems. It sounds like backtracking to me. Here’s Paige’s response from her Facebook page. (Incidentally, her website launches her version of “I Dreamed a Dream.”)

“I was dismayed to read the remarks attributed to me today in the Daily Mail which were incomplete and misinterpreted.

I am a huge supporter of Susan Boyle and admire what she has achieved; she has handled the extraordinary situation of being catapulted to worldwide stardom with tremendous strength, charm and dignity and I thoroughly enjoyed working with her on the ITV special we recorded together only last month.

I have always said it’s very hard for someone to be fast-tracked to stardom without any prior experience – I know this as it happened to me when ‘Evita’ opened and I found it extremely difficult in the beginning; today, of course, it’s much harder with the phenomenon of the internet – Facebook, YouTube etc – it seems it only takes minutes for fame to spread around the world – and that’s why I used the word ‘virus’! I wasn’t referring to Susan herself; I was referring to the speed of her fame spreading as fast as a worldwide viral marketing campaign.”

[From Elaine Paige’s Facebook]

Susan received a rumored $10 million advance for her CD, and she had the top selling music album on Amazon this entire holiday season. Her album is still number two on Amazon’s charts and has been on the charts for 150 days. She’s raking in the dough, and Paige might resent the fact that Boyle has earned more money in months than she has in years. This is a simple lady who doesn’t deserve to be trashed for her success. I understand that Boyle can sometimes be grumpy and a pain to deal with – she’s having some trouble coping with the pressure and demands of fame – but she has a beautiful singing voice and real talent. If Paige did say these things – taken out of context or not – t’s a shame that she would be so convinced of her own self worth that she can’t see the value in others.

In related news, Boyle received a shock when she returned to her modest home in Scotland and found a teenage intruder. She said she’s not going to move, though and that “I think he got more of a scare than I did because he ran off.”

South Bank Show Awards - Arrivals

FILE Susan Boyle outside her home in Blackburn, Scotland. Police are probing a break-in at the global singing-star's humble abode

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35 Responses to “Susan Boyle’s idol Elaine Paige makes nasty comments about her”

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  1. Chicken Tetrazzini says:

    How could anyone possibly be mean to SuBo? It’s like kicking a puppy, she seems like the sweetest thing ever, and is SO talented…I just don’t get it.

  2. longtallsally says:

    I don’t think Elaine Paige is being bitchy at all… I think she’s correct in her statements that Susan Boyle has not worked very hard for her success. It’s further proof that the cult of the amateur is not going away. But I guess that’s what these sites are for, eh? Making mountains out of mole-hills?

  3. Wow says:

    Hater. Hater. Hater. 😉
    Yeah jelousy is not a good look. Plus in my mind whenever someone uses that phrase of “terribly well” I always translate that to them feeling ” terrible” because someone is doing “well” in life. Secretely I think that is what they mean. Lol.

    And let this be another lesson to SuBo that everyone who smiles and wish you well to your face, probably wish you’d strain a vocal cord so that all the press will return to them. Yes, I’m glaring at you Elaine.

  4. Taya says:

    I love Susan Boyle and people who are saying terrible things about her are just jealous.

  5. Maritza says:

    It’s obvious she is envious of Susan’s overnight success, she’ll probably make more money than her. I’m happy for Susan Boyle, I love her voice.

  6. hatsumomo says:

    Poor Susan, I hope she doesnt see these statements and think they’re true. I can only imagine one day meeting your idol only to have her say nasty things about you later. Hopefully, Susan learned things arent always what they appear to be in print. And I hope her cd stays on top for another 150 days. Shes deserved it.

  7. Schwety says:

    in my opinion, Susan Boyle is an ok singer – I think Paul Potts is way better….i’m just sayin’

  8. Jeane says:

    ???
    Those comments do not sound that nasty to me. Page is just commenting on the way Susan Boyle became an overnight sensation and then she commented on the whole hype of Idol, Xfactor etc. that creates these disposable stars.

    And she is right. Boyle did not have any real experience, and she did not work in the bussiness for years and years to earn her fame. She got famous because that youtube video went viral. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve it or isn’t talented, and that is also not what Page is saying.
    Page does not have any reason to be jealous. She has already built a succesful long lasting carreer, and only time will tell if Susan Boyle will be able to do the same when the hype ends.

    Seriously, the media are creating a feud between two succesful women (like they ALWAYS do) where there is none.

    Celebitchy, I am sorry to see that you chose to join them with this misleading headline and article.

  9. Samantha says:

    There is a difference between “not working hard” and “not having the same opportunities as other people.” She worked damn hard…taking care of her mother. She worked damn hard…singing in the little pub in her town any chance she got. I think she deserves ALL of the attention she is getting, and that bitter old hag can just go suck on some more lemons.

  10. kelly says:

    jealous much?

    who ever u are, give Bon Jovi his hair back
    and buy some lips.

  11. lucy2 says:

    I think there’s a hint of jealousy there, the whole, why did she have it so easy when it took me decades? I don’t doubt that they exaggerated her statements, but I think the sentiment is still there.
    But at the same time, I hope she appreciates that she’s had decades of success, respect, and working in a job she loves. Susan’s only gotten to enjoy all that for what, a year?

  12. Bonnie says:

    LeAnn Rimes and Faith Hill made the same comments about Carrie Underwood after all the Country Music Awards she won after winning American Idol.

  13. Shay says:

    Someones been drinking the Hateraid.

  14. Allison says:

    wow…look out for the green eyed monster…

  15. EMV says:

    Sorry I’m not a fan of SuBo…she has a good voice,but not great. Her ability is limited and she needs more experience to expand her craft. I admire her story, but I still don’t admire her voice.

  16. YouDontNeedToKnow says:

    Holy “F”. Talk about being jealous or what.

  17. Maddie says:

    It all comes down to talent and Susan has a beautiful voice that she had the chance to show the world that, does it really matter if she caught on because of the internet.

    I’ve never even heard of Elaine Paige until today.
    I can understand if she was talking about someone like the Heidi Montag, the Kardashians, and Hilton, who’s claim to fame is a sex tape and a famous last name (not much to offer).

    Boyle has talent to last as long as she likes and to me it comes across as the attack of the Green-Eyed Monster.

    I can understand because she Paige had to tramp about town on auditions and casting calls and the like and where Susan went on a TV sang and was an overnight sensation.

  18. MSat says:

    Wow, that’s kind of bitchy!

    Susan Boyle may not have paid her dues in the music industry but she certainly did in other ways. For starters, just look at her. She’s not some pretty young thing that had record labels fighting over her. I think her rise to fame is the only way someone with her looks could have become a success in the industry.

    It is getting tiresome to hear women tearing other women down all the time. Elaine should be happy that someone like Susan idolizes her so much. I’d say a majority of folks don’t even know who Elaine Paige is anymore.

  19. Essie says:

    I agree with Samantha!! Susan did work hard and when the opportunity came along, she took it. Good for her. If she didn’t have the talent, she would not have “spread like a virus” because nobody would have bought the CD.

    I think Ms. Paige might be a bit jealous. After all, nobody in America had ever even heard of her until Ms. Boyle mentioned her name. I googled her to see who she was and still don’t know. Now I feel sorry for Susan because this cow said such nasty things about her. What a shame!!

  20. longtallsally says:

    Right Essie, NOBODY had ever heard of Elaine Paige until Susan Boyle mentioned her name… no one ever knew she was a huge musical star who’d been the first to play Evita or Grizabella in Cats… thank you all for pointing out she’s just a nasty noboby who’s jealous of all the attention Susan Boyle’s getting because she only wishes in her bitter little heart she had *such* public acclaim.

    This whole nonsense will just be a blip on the screen of Elaine Paige’s 30+ year career, while Susan Boyle will be forgotten in a couple of years.

  21. Blint says:

    I don’t believe EP meant anything mean by her comments. I think she meant exactly how she explained it. Just that’s it’s rough being an overnight success without building up to it, or knowing the business. This is different to what Amanda and Sharon did.

  22. oxa says:

    Elaine Page has always been a two faced cow jealous of anyone elses success. Susan Boyle didn’t have to sleep with anyone to become well-known, nor has she ever stolen anyone else’s husband as far as I know, put a sock in it Paige. Susan’s talent is entirely natural and that’s what you can’t bare!

  23. Alison E says:

    I don’t think it’s fair to say no one had heard of Elaine Paige before Susan Boyle. I had, because I was into musicals in the eighties.

    That said though, I think she could have been MUCH more graceful about this, but I don’t think she’s intentionally being a jealous bitch. If she were being entirely hateful, she wouldn’t have performed the duet at all. I want to believe she was just surprised that anyone would ask if SHE was proud, because she didn’t have anything to do with Boyle’s success, and has no reason to be proud or claim any part of that success as her own.

    I really hope that’s it, I love her, have always loved her, and I don’t want to believe she’s a hateful bitch. 🙁

  24. JohnnieR says:

    I don’t think Elaine Paige is being bitchy at all – she’s always been a straight shooter who tells it like it is – and she’s right about Susan Boyle. I don’t think she is targeting Susan per se, but rather this age of mass communication and the instant elevation to ‘stardom’ from obscurity.

    Personally, I find Susan Boyle a hoot, because of her wacko public outbursts, but then again, that’s the Irish-Canadian humour in me! Heheheheheh.

  25. Izzy says:

    I think the success comes in a different way nowadays. If there wasn’t internet when Paige got success ad she had to work harder to be known, too bad, it’s not Boyle’s fault. I think Paige is really jealous because she doesn’t get as much attention as Boyle.

  26. Cinderella says:

    Even if she’s right about Susan Boyle’s lack of experience, she should have kept her trap shut as a professional. For one, Susan Boyle wouldn’t hurt a flea, so why say something so hurtful. Any performer secure in their own accomplishments would support a fellow entertainer at least publicly. It’s called tact.

  27. I don’t think it matters how much experience you have, when you’re great you’re great. Elaine should be appreciating instead of hating and if she doesn’t appreciate then she should just keep her mouth shut. The way she talked about how long and difficult it was for her with Evita its clear she’s jealous of Susan and the fact that she showed up for a contest and became a star. Should Susan have held back and not been so great and successful because there was no internet when Elaine was trying to rise to fame because it just wouldnt be fair? No. Elaine’s jealous, no doubt about it.

  28. hatsumomo says:

    Honestly, I never heard of
    Paige until Susan mentioned her adn I love theater. Never mind that most of the love I have for it has come from local productions and original materials from San Antonio, but the only ‘big productions’ I’ve ever seen were Cats and Phantom. And Paige didnt star in Cats when it came here.

  29. Argots says:

    Both make me want to puke.

  30. gg says:

    Girlfriend is just jealous that SuBo’s dress blows hers away.

  31. A. B. says:

    Maybe Elaine Paige isn’t very well known in the USA, but she is the First Lady of Musical Theater in the UK. I do know her and I think she should get some credit for all the awesome work she has done! I mean she has been performing on stage for 40 years, giving 8 performances a week.. not anyone can!

    I don’t think Elaine Paige is jealous! Why should she be? She has had a very successful career spanning 40 years.
    I don’t think she meant what she said in a bad or a mean way. I agree with Alison E. that she could have been more graceful but then again like JohnnieR said she’s always been a straight shooter and she is just telling it like it is and she knows, because she has been there for a LONG time. And then again if it is all taken out of context to make her look mean, that’s very bitchy. I believe her when she says that she’s a huge supporter of Susan and admires what she has achieved. I mean she has at least had the dignity to apologize for what seemed to some like a cruel remark on her behalf and stated that it was taken out of context. But it is true that she has just always said it was hard for someone to become a star overnight, which it was for Susan Boyle and so many other stars. With that she means generally for ANYONE! I also believe she just meant that the future will reveal how Susan will do. I don’t find that mean in any way! I mean will she be able to perform on stage like Elaine: 8 times a week for many years? Will she go into theater? Can she act? What does the future hold in store for her? We don’t know, but the future holds the answer!

    I do like Susan Boyle, she as a voice of an angel and she is the sweetest thing. But Elaine also has the most amazing voice and she is in my opinion a sweet and genuine person. I don’t think she is a hateful bitch nor that she is in any way “competing” with Susan’s overnight fame. So she has no reason to be jealous over the fact that Susan is more famous in America. I don’t think Elaine cares much!
    Well, that’s just what I think on this matter. Peace and love to you all!

  32. Dany says:

    Yeahh…! Very less people know about Ealine Paaige..and most of the ppl know that she (Elaine paige) is idol of Susan boyle….Because of Susan …..Elaine became famous on youtube and oher internet stuffs..

  33. Boonya says:

    Longevity to gained through knowledge,
    long time to get experience and effort for success , that is the word for the people whom isn’t the talent

    the talent may be someone is the knownless, no experience but use a short time to be a success

    except that Elaine Paige you fail for 40 years in this business I just know your name when see Susan in youtube
    even you in this business for 40 years
    while the world have youtube for 4-5 years why I never know you but she Susan Boyle I know her immediately when British got talent have finished the season

  34. franz chong says:

    a grandma like this up against bubble gum pop.Pink outsold her on the Australian Market recently and that is a 30 something bubble gum pop artist.There are probably more like her out there so sorry unless you are over the age of 50 something is wrong with you to be a susan fan

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