Hollie Steel Cries On Britains Got Talent
UPDATE: Can we please remind people that Hollie is a 10 year old girl. Whether or not you agree with Simon’s decision to let her sing again, remember that she is only a child and some of your vicious comments speak more about you than about her.
Only those with a heart of stone could have watched Hollie Steel break down on tonight’s Britain’s Got talent semi final and not almost join her in tears.
The little girl came onto the stage and began to sing Edelwiess from Sound Of Music. It was obvious from the start that she was nervous and her voice shook from the first note, I was so scared watching her progress.
By the middle of the song Hollie was wobbling and a few seconds later she broke down completely and the music had to be stopped. Hollie’s mum came up to the stage to comfort her and Hollie begged for a second chance. The producers, ever worried about their ad breaks and revenue figures, told Ant and Dec that she couldn’t perform for a second time. Hollie was almost in hysterics at the news, until, Simon Cowell swooped in and promised her that they would fit her in again at some point during the show.
Hollie reappeared later in the show and sang the song fully with no more tears. When the results were announced Hollie was placed up against Greg Pritchard for a place in tomorrow’s final.
By the end of the series the debate will be raging on whether or not children should be put under this sort of pressure and whether it is detrimental to their well-being to be judged in this way. I don’t think I would put my ten year old through the ordeal.
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Ok…watched the performance of her over and over again and i do believe she was sad and had a beautiful voice, but when you cry don’t you have tears? I personaly think her mum is too pushy as in her video background to her life she looked happy and geniuine and on the stage she appears to be not happy. ( and if you enjoy it, you look it). I think her mum chose the song and it is apsobutely unfair she was aloud to go agian.
In the first auditons when the people ask if they can have another chance to prove themselves, they judges always say leave.
Yeah shes ten and she is brave but not the bravest girl. Brave is when children learn they have an illness and try to battle it to survive not mess up a few lyrics
Although i do think she had a good voice and even if she didnt cry i do believ she wouldve still gone through.
GOOD LUCK, ANYONE IN THE BRITAINS GOT TALENT FINAL!
No one else would have been allowed to sing again so why should she have been! She messed it up, they should have just moved on! Also I didnt see many tears, she was just a spoilt kid having a tantrum. If children want to be in the same competition as adults they should be judged on the same rules! The child isnt up to it, forget her age many 10 year olds wouldnt have behaved like that and could have done it. Shes a cheat, and has the mother from hell!! (The mother begged almost as much as the kid it was sickening). Some people need to live in the real world! Kick her out!!!
I do agree with you but what’s done is done, shamefully :/
xD
BGT’s semi-final #5 was absolutely appalling. I do not have a heart of steel, but Hollie Steel should have been shown kindness, compassion but let the first attempt be the performance with no second chance. The judges were wrong in allowing this. Also, why is the mother so visible. no other young contestant had the mother so visible.
I suggest BGT reconsider and at a minimum, let Greg P perform in the final. Come on guys do the right thing
Bernie
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Many people are assuming it was not a setup as they cannot see that there is a motive or that a child would be able to carry it off.
The motive is that her mother said when interviewed by Andrew Castle that she was worried about being seen as bigheaded. So she needed to show she can be “humble”.
And most 10 year olds who have appeared in musicals, as Hollie has, would be perfectly able to act out those emotions in the right order – from pretending to falter through recovering to singing well the second tme – as well as if not better than Hollie did. After all she wiped underneath her eyes when there were no tears. I wouldn’t criticise someone who didn’t cry at all but I am suspicious of someone who wipes underneath their eyes when they are dry.
Honestly, I think the issue is whether Hollie should have been allowed that second chance. Let’s look at other competitions with young folks–gymnastics, for instance. If a gymnast had fallen off a piece of equipment, she would absolutely be given the opportunity to continue and/or start again…however, she would be scored lower than a competitor who nailed the routine out of the gate and certainly would NOT be a contender for finals. The same applies with Hollie Steel. Good on her for coming back on stage and performing, that shows determination–but she should not have been put through to finals based on her original performance. It is unfair that no one else in the entire competition was given a second chance, regardless of age or talent.
Boo to the judges for using one set of criteria for Hollie, and another for the rest.
I agree. Life goes on though.
By the way, I don’t necessarily agree that Greg should have been put through to the finals instead…he had a fantastic audition, but not a great semi-final performance. Really, what should have happened is that Hollie should have been disqualified, thereby leaving Greg and the fourth-place act to duke it out with the judges.
Oh, and another aside–I absolutely saw the little foot stamping routine…anyone who denies seeing it should watch the clip again, it’s very clear. It still shouldn’t have mattered–she should have been judged on the (first) performance, itself, which wasn’t as good as the others (though, for the record, I don’t think the calibre of last night’s performers was quite at the level attained earlier in the week).
I agree with you to be honest.
What happens if Hollie wis the finals?
Time will tell ;x
Also…
Simon cowell has alot of experience in the entertainment industry he should have been more professional and told her she was not ready.
Ahh but Simon Cowell is a bloody marketing genius! He knew that if he let her have another chance the phonelines would be ringing non stop for her.
More phonecalls, more profit.
Clever Simon!
I previously posted under May 29th, 2009 at 11:56 pm dissing Hollie for tiaras and and tantrums but I have really thought again and wish Id never said all that. This is why. She was trying hard to be her best at the most important thing to her in her young life, around which turns all her daily world, including the alleged bullying from other kids at school – this is what she is living for most of all – it was her biggest chance ever yet and her total dream. What happened to her with the performance was not only humiliating & embarassing on national tv from a little girl who refuses to cry in front of school bullies but goes off the toilets to cry in private after theyve said things. Im not saying this to condone sob stories at talent contests but to show how messing up in front of everyone she knew would be watching, the biggest audience of her young ‘career’, and then crying in the first instance, and it does seem genuine at first, was uncharacteristic for someone who normally keeps things buttoned up under stress, as she has suggested before in iterview. For her thats quite a breakdown and she does otherwise seem very well poised & professional. All that must have been awful if not traumatic to feel herself and her dreams of the thing shes lived for most of all, just disintegrate on stage for the world to see her ‘fail’, what an awful experience for anyone in their ‘job’. Imagine if you were filmed before millions around the world and online doing your job and you messed up, youd be mortified, especially if it meant you couldnt carry on your job again with your head held high or had damaged future prospects. All she was doing in pleading, whining, crying, or using any means to save her moment was as any of us do when faced with the loss of something we want most in life if theres any possibility of a second chance – we hold hard to the precious things and people and all feel desperate – we earnestly want another chance if faced with losing what matters most. I think what people take for fake tears was just part of the distress of the moment and wanting her way clearly, not great, but cant for a moment judge her for that, she was just trying to get somewhere facing it all going down teh drain. I dont condone this behaviour – and she may or not be a little diva in stomping the foot, its not likeable but shes only a human, a very little one, and all of us do things like that too when we shouldnt, but its human and she was only expressing anger and frustration and desperately wanting something about to be taken from her – but adults do a version of that in their own way and its totally understandable, if not desirable, she just wanted mercy in a desperate catastrophe as she may have seen it – and she needs some basic mercy now in all our comments too quick to illjudge & to celebrate all the great things about her and her performance, and her mum’s supportiveness, not criticise too quickly. Are we really going to feel like good morally superior adults knowing all the hostile, and terrible things all these adults have written about her, stamping their foot back at her all over the internet, poor kid. These comments will be online for years to come, probably and Im very sorry to her and her family for saying anything about just a little kid, how dare I, how dare you too. Come on, leave her please, shes got talent, and a beautiful face and she does not need public hate to help her on her way, a little mercy & a second chance tonight at the final to be judged on merit, fairly – this all must be so traumatic for her & we all desperately need mercy from peoples judgement or negative opinions or horrible things happening, especially in times of stress or major crisis when, be honest, which of us behaves perfectly then?
Wow! Good point. I never thought of that =]
That’s clever to be honest XD
I would like to see Greg perform in the final.
I think he was robbed.
greg is way better than hollie I agree
with liquinn yoshi
I’ve made a couple of postings earlier and would just like to make three further comments.
Firstly, in the full knowledge that contestants get one shot only at performance and there are no second chances, do you honestly think a 10-year old would be stupid enough – or have the guile – to take the enormous risk of faking a breakdown in order to win a sympathy vote? Think about it, guys…
Secondly, a distressed child ‘dry-sobbing’ i.e., without producing tears, is a child in a state of nervous hysteria and is NOT a child having a temper tantrum. There is a world of difference between temper (anger) and a panic attack (nerves). She was clearly trying her best not to shed tears but became distraught when she realised she had blown her chances. Anyone who thinks her distress was staged is a fool.
Thirdly, with the exception of a very few contributors, I have never come across a more detestable set of people in my life as those engaged in publicly bullying a defenceless child by posting here. Vengeful, suspicious, spiteful, totally lacking in compassion and empathy, hearts full of hatred and jealousy of a little girl – you should be ashamed of yourselves.
What’s the big deal folks? What’s done is done so get over it.
Simon labelled her as “the bravest girl in the world”. I think that is the most insulting thing to say! A 10 year old girl who performs twice on a talent show is not the bravest girl in the world. Brave is the young children in hospitals all over the world, fighting for their lives, having endless number of operations who still have the enthusiasim to carry on and love life. Bravery is for the children who live in run down childrens homes and still manage to get good qualifications and grow up to have a loving family. Bravery is for the children whos siblings have died unexpected and they still have the courage to carry on with life, supporting their parents through difficult times. Bravery is for the soldiers, who give their life to fight and represent their country, never giving up the hope that one day, they will be able to return home.I know a young girl who has been fighting cancer for about a year now, she is four years old and was in scotland on holiday when she was diagnosed with the disease. She has fought so hard at such a young age, just fighting each day for her life. That is bravery ! I think that Simon Cowell needs to visit these people, live in their lives for a day and see the true meaning of bravery because that girl does not deserve that label! I hope others see this too and simon will apologise because I am disgusted!
hope she don’t win
i felt sorry for her tbh.. you can’t really call her reaction “brattish” she cried.. big wooop!! get over it people, she got through to the final, and she’s a good singer.. no ones having ago about that jamie pew or whatever his name is, and his crappy preformance! give her a break jeeezzz!
And I am not alone with this belief, no matter how many times my post gets deleted by someone with a small penis.
i totally agree with jill and after seeing her sing tonight i hope she wins!
n’awww i love phantom of the opera.. she’s lush.. no tears tonight.. everyone happy? stavros flatley- ahahaaaa i love them!
Grace… you’ve had your say so let others have theirs.
I don’t think your being fair Grace. Are you not happy just to have your say?
I agree with Georgia.
I’m sorry, but there weren’t even real tears – watch a clip of the ‘crying’ again – at no point are there any real tears there! Whether it was an intentional sympathy set up or not is debatable, but either way, the crying was a bit put on and let’s face it, if an adult had broken down with nerves in her position and stamped their foot when being told as per the rules she couldn’t sing again Simon wouldn’t have stepped in to give them a second chance. You may say she’s only 10, but that’s old enough to be aware of how she acts will be seen by the audience and public – she knows she’s won some sympathy. She can sing, definitely, but she’s also shown a somewhat brattish attitude and demeanour which I don’t like at all and which, frankly, she’s old enough to have grown out of.
Wow, there are a some bitter and twisted individuals on here. The girl was 10 years old, and broke down whilst singing on live TV for the first time ever. The idea that she would jeopardise her chances for a sympathy vote,is laughable. She may not be a the “bravest girl in the world”, but to come back and sing the song took a lot of guts.
Maybe she shouldn’t have been given a second shot out of fairness to the others, but young children are never going to be held to the same standards – and subjected to criticism in the same way as adults – on these shows. If you are so concerned about fairness, ask yourself how Mr Cowell can be allowed to judge a competiton in which he has already signed the favourite to a recording contract. Its funny how nobody had a single bad word say about Ms Boyle on Monday, even though she was flat for most of the song. Given the choice beteween a singer who could make Mr Cowell a lot of money, and ventriloquist/comedian/juggler/Dancer, it doesn’t take a genious to know which way he is going vote.
To those commenting on Simon saying she was the bravest girl in the world… he didn’t mean exactly that, he was just helping her to feel better.
All the judges do when they say “that’s the best ___ act I’ve ever seen” or some such drivel. You can’t literally instantly recall every act you’ve seen over your lifetime and accurately compare it to the one you’ve just seen.
Well she didn’t win!
Diversity deserved it i think 
Well, it’s all moot now anyway. Diversity were worthy winners
diversity stole a lot of their coreogrophy from americas best dance crew. Their execuion was amazing but because they plagarised a lot of ideas i think that susan should have won.
After all that, Hollie was amazing in the final. She was better than Greg, he was entertaining yeh but he wasn’t good lol he was just weird. Shes 10 and she broke down, she got a second chance cos the judges knew she was the best and once again the final was incredible and she proved she deserved to be in the final.
Point a) I’m only 11 myself and I probably would have DIED on stage.
b) Greg was freaky. How on EARTH did he get into the semi finals? He was NOT entertaining. I had a slight earache at that point and listening to that made it worse.
c) Sure, she stamped her foot – she might have had pins and needles.
d) I’ve been on TV before, and trust me – it’s scary. And I was only acting!
e) Besides, what Rob said – it’s over people! Don’t get het up about it!
i thought she was just panic after she realized that she had made mistakes and became totally blank in her mind and then forgot the line.
and then she just reacted without any thought. i believed and saw many contestants begged for other shot, hoping there may be a chance. she is an exception because she was moving. her action was normal and understandable.
people do things when they are desperate. yes she could have done better but she really and actually did better and overcame a lot after that. people set a overhigh demand for her.
I thought her performance in the final was stunning, and proves that she was there on merit not just sympathy.
I bet most of the sick people who posted such vile and digusting comments at a little 10yo girl trying to fulfil her dream, I bet you were willing her to fall again. Well I’m glad she gave such a stunning performance and am sure she has a good career ahead of her.
Well done Hollie you proved to all those sick bullies what a wonderful talent you are, and I’m sure we will be seeing much more of you in the future.
I didn’t buy it on the live show and after watching the repeat of the programme, I still don’t.
I don’t know if this was part of a greater scam to tug at the heartstrings (there is a rather horrific formulaic unreality to these talent shows) or if it was down to Holly alone, but it was the most frightful manipulation of an audience.
I found it ghastly to watch, switched off entirely from the child, and was delighted that Diversity won. The young man that choreographs the group is simply brilliant and truly original. He really is a new talent and I hope this is the start of an astounding career for him and his fellow dancers.
WELL SAID Gerard and Manny, I agree with what you both said. I think a lot of the adults comments in here are disgracful. How can people say such things about a 10yr old child (yes she is a child) that they don’t even know. If adults behave like this, no wonder the children have no tolerence. How would you feel if it was your child being called all those names? You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Gill
I’m sorry I somehow missed your comments. What you say is very true and I really don’t understand why people have to be so mean and nasty, especially about someone who is only 10 and who they don’t even know. I guess they must get some sort of pleasure out of putting other people down, maybe it’s just jealousy and if not, it is just down right nasty.
VickyToria
Even though you are only 11, what you said was very sensible and gown up. I think a lot of the adults on here could learn a lot from your understanding comments.
She stamped her foot in frustration, it was like a “oh damn” stamp rather than a tantrum. She didn’t do it cos she had pins and needles lol, no need to make up ridiculous excuses when there is no need. Some people are just showing off acting a lot more offended by her than they really are. Some of the stuff being said though you should all be ashamed. She was so brave and the fact that their are adults that can say so much cruel stuff behind a computer moniter emphasises her bravery as well as further showing their cowerdice.
Right I wrote a comment much earlier just saying that I thought the behaviour resembled that of a tantrum. I DO NOT think that Hollie is a brat – for goodness sakes she is a little girl and the contest is over, it was after all the public who voted her into the final so she clearly HAS talent. I am young myself and hearing all these harsh comments is so upsetting considering Hollie or her mother could be reading these. I wrote one comment and that was just to say my views on what I saw – I have nothing agaisnt Hollie. Right now I have more respect for her than for many of you on here. Everybody should stop talking about it now – all I’m getting in my inbox is nasty comments about this girl and I want it to stop – Ive tried putting them in junk inbox but that hasnt worked. The only way is for you all to now leave her alone and for God’s sake give her a break. If you carry on you are nothing but a Bully and I pity you. I really do.
I am still certain that Hollie’s tantrum was exactly that. You can fool some of the people etc.
Hollie’s singing is not to my taste and never will be but she has talent and sings in tune. I find her rather of the stage school variety and not in a good way because she defines precocious.
Maybe the reaction from the many people who doubt the sincerity of her behaviour is a good lesson for her to learn now. No one else on that show was allowed a second chance and that is really life’s reality.
I have a big problem with the various events that occur in this stable of programming as I find them manipulative and painfully obvious. I have heard today that the sax player has played on three of Mr Cowell’s records.
No idea if it is fact but this sort of thing comes to light all the Britain’s Got Talent Too casually said that maybe the fact that Susan was the runner up was a good thing due to the pressure she had been under. Yeah – interesting that – bet the producer’s heaved a huge sigh of relief.
scam, set up, not fair on the other acts coz if a dog, man, woman, parrot, messed up dey wouldn’t be allowed to go agen. da only reason simon wanted her to go agen was so that he cwld exploit her nd make money out of her CD’s. i no she’s 10 but hw cares, u go on to preform at ur best nd in my oppinion if u’v blown it, den u’v blown it, end of story. tuff.
She didn’t blow up, she shoulda still gone through, we all knew she was talented.
Everyone gets nerves, bless her she was distraught. Can you possiblely imagine the cruel taunts she would have got at school if they had just pushed her off, if she was being bullied before can you imagine it would have completely destroyed her. Having to face her friends after all that happened a failure, I can’t imagine what was going threw her mind at that point.
The others are adults and maybe they wouldn’t have had a second chance, but adults handle things different to a little child.
In my view Simon was absolutely right to step in and give her that chance to redeem her performance, she has a beautiful voice and clearly a lot of talent.
I’m sure most of the decent people were willing her and singing along with her on that second performance, it was clearly a stunning performance with so much pressure on her. I’m so glad she made it to the final and gave us that unbelievable performance in the final.
Before you go on with more of your critism just think what her life would have been like had she not been given that second chance, her crying and desperation showed how distraught she was.
She deserved her final place she was better than all the other acts int that semi, sorry Gregg fans but she was on a different level.
If she has an album I would certainly buy it, I wish her all the best.
Now she can go on and face her friends with pride, not the shame of being a failure.
Good on you Hollie.
There is one thing that no one else has mentioned, if Hollie had not been given a second chance and had just been buzzed off as some people seem to think she should have been, she probably still would have made the finals because she would have had a lot more simpathy votes and people would be calling Simon a bully. Whatever decision they made, there would have been people who didn’t agree. At least now Hollie had her chance and some of the people who would have voted for her because they felt sorry for her probably voted for someone else.
I have some and I mean some sympathy for Hollie’s stage break down. I would have total respect for her if only she showed good sportsmanship and competition decorum and took her break down on the chin. Girl you messed up, now learn to take it gracefully that is how the majority of 10 year olds I know behave without your so called Britains Got Talent.
What did the Roman emperors give the plebs to take their minds off crippling taxes, food shortages and endless wars? Bread and circuses. This is what’s happening in the UK now, pap TV like BGT. Can you wonder it’s gladiatorial? Remember the reaction of the audience when Susan Boyle first appeared BEFORE she sang? Baying for blood, thumbs down. Then, when she opened her mouth, equally hysterical adoration. BGT is a covert Government-backed attempt to turn us all into passive epsilons who get their emotional release third-hand, and I personally don’t give a toss who won. That said, Hollie Steel appeared as an obnoxious little moppet, only exceeded in awfulness by her pushy mother and the oleagenous Piers Morgan. Yes, I watched it, but I feel soiled for doing so. Talent? Freak show more like.
Sometimes i wonder what the people in England saw! Hollie! Hollie! Hollie!
You becane a star! Britains got talent missed again just like last year.
I’ve said it before— Watch Julie Andrews sing, I could have danced all night, then watch Hollie Steel. you tell me who sang it better! Hollie you have my vote.
It always seems so hard for those who give comments to agree with disagreeing and get offensive, while it is merely uttered as a personal opinion.
If you look back at Hollie’s first attempt with a none biased mind, it does raise a few brows. Mute the sound and just watch the performance again.
Whether it is genuine or not, a whole lot of emotion is showing without a single drop of tear, not even watery eyes and not to mention the incredible quick change from making crying sounds to being cheery after hearing she got another chance. It just didn’t feel right, despite that she was only ten years old. She didn’t need more than a split second to chance her mood and I am not even exaggerating. She was mature enough to compete in the first place. The way her mum pleaded was very disturbing to watch. While the child was sobbing, the mom’s comfort quickly changed into begging for a second chance. I am no mother, but if any mother sees her child breaking down, would they not withdrawn immediately? Instead giving the child extra pressure? Knowing there might be a good chance to break down again?
It just looked like mummy wanted her to perform so desperately, it made it look pathetic instead of sympathetic.
With that said, I am not saying that she didn’t deserve a place in the final at all. She has definitely a great voice for her age and the way she hit the high notes were absolutely pure. However, she did not deserve a place in the final because of the act (whether it was intentional of not).
Every contestant should have been treaten equally. If you mess up, you just mess up. No age should have make any difference.