Britain’s Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas has hit back at the ‘soul-destroying’ backlash surrounding her series win after being embroiled in ‘fix’ claims.
The budding West End star soared to victory in Sunday’s final at the Eventim Apollo with her take on Lauren Allred’s version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
Now, Sydnie has told Metro that seeing the backlash around her victory has been ‘c****y,’ and said there’s ‘nothing she can do to change their minds.’
She said: ‘I’m new to all the attention. [The fix rumours are] just not true.
‘Everything has been genuine and I’ve said my truth so saying it’s not is questioning me. There’s nothing that breaks my heart more than to see [the doubt].
Britain’s Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas has hit back at the ‘soul-destroying’ backlash surrounding her series win after being embroiled in ‘fix’ claims
The budding West End star soared to victory in Sunday’s final at the Eventim Apollo with her take on Lauren Allred’s version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow
‘It makes me feel really cr**py. It’s soul-destroying but there’s nothing I can do to change their minds so I’ve had to separate myself.’
Judge Amanda Holden has also thrown her support behind the budding star, telling MailOnline: ‘Sydnie is undoubtedly a star. I’ve been doing this show for 17 years now, and I’ve been stopped by more BGT fans this series than ever before about our Sydnie Christmas.
‘I know she’s destined for big things. She’s my golden girl and I can’t wait to have front row seats to whatever is next for her. And as our girl would say… Let’s have it! Come on!’
Sydnie is already destined for stardom after being approached by top talent agencies following her spellbinding performances.
Appearing on This Morning on Monday following her win, Sydnie revealed that some ‘really good agencies’ – who have big stars on their books – have got in touch with her regarding representation.
Sydnie also gave fans some insight into how she’ll spend the whopping £250,000 prize fund, and it’s not as elaborate as you would expect.
When asked her plans for spending the money, she said: ‘Not a clue. I loved my singing coach on BGT – Annabel Williams. She was amazing and got me through that. I said to her: ‘I can now afford you once a week!”
Sydnie scooped the coveted £250,000 prize and a place in the Royal Variety Show after impressing judges Bruno Tonioli, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden and winning over the voting public at home.
Sydnie scooped the coveted £250,000 prize and a place in the Royal Variety Show after impressing judges Bruno Tonioli, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden and winning over the voting public at home
Now, Sydnie has told Metro that seeing the backlash around her victory has been ‘c****y,’ and said there’s ‘nothing she can do to change their minds’
Judge Amanda Holden has also thrown her support behind the budding star, telling MailOnline she’s ‘destined for big things’
After struggling to get auditions and roles on the West End, Sydnie auditioned for the show in the hopes that it would be her big break.
And it just might be, as she said: ‘I’ve had interest from really good agencies. It’s just picking one that’s right for you.
‘But I think I’m hellbent on an agency, just sorting things out, which is so exciting.’
She added: ‘And the people who are on [the agencies’] books, I look at the page and I’m like: ‘Am I worthy enough to be on the page with these people? These people that I have grown up watching?”
Sydnie took to her Instagram Stories later on Sunday night to tearfully thank everyone who voted for her as she celebrated her huge win.
Despite scooping the mammoth prize, Sydnie stuck to her humble roots on Sunday night, hitting Wetherspoons to celebrate.
The singer was joined by her family and friends to enjoy several drinks in the local pub and admitted she was still speechless about her win.
Appearing on This Morning on Monday following her win, Sydnie revealed that some ‘really good agencies’ – who have big stars on their books – have got in touch with her regarding representation
Sydnie also gave fans some insight into how she’ll spend the whopping £250,000 prize fund, and it’s not as elaborate as you would expect
When asked her plans for spending the money, she said: ‘Not a clue. I loved my singing coach on BGT – Annabel Williams. She was amazing and got me through that. I said to her: ‘I can now afford you once a week!”
Despite scooping the mammoth prize, Sydnie stuck to her humble roots on Sunday night, hitting Wetherspoons to celebrate with her family and friends
Sharing an emotional video at the pub, she addressed her fans and gratefully gushed: ‘Thank you everyone who voted for me, I don’t even know my life.’
Panning the camera to show her loved ones raising their glasses, she added: ‘The Christmas clan are celebrating in the Wetherspoons’ as the group cheered.
Sydnie captioned the joyful clip: ‘I love you all. I have no words’ followed by a string of heart and crying emojis.
She also shared a snap of her posing with the judges and hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, writing: ‘Cheers to the best day of my life. Thanks to you lot. I owe it all to yous.’
The show has been marred by drama, with the judges accused of upstaging performers, fans criticising the inclusion of international acts, contestants suffering injuries and claims the winner is ‘already a professional‘.
Fans were furious after discovering that Sydnie, 28, has already enjoyed a career in music, despite her current role as a receptionist in Kent at a local gym on a zero-hour contract.
The show has also received criticism from viewers for featuring more international acts in this year’s series than ever before.
After her name was read out in Sunday’s final, the overwhelmed star broke down as she said: ‘I don’t know what to say! I cannot believe the amount of love I’ve felt since it aired.
‘It’s absolutely – oh my god. I am overwhelmed with love and I wish for one day that everyone feels the way I do. It’s amazing, thank you so much.’
Sydnie beat ten other outstanding acts with her rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow after a jam-packed episode.
Second place went to magician Jack Rhodes, third place went to Ghanaian dancers Abigail and Afronita and fourth place went to opera singer Innocent Masuku.
She has dreamt of being able to work full time on the West End and is hopeful that BGT will be a stepping stone to make that dream a reality
Second place went to magician Jack Rhodes (left), third place went to Ghanaian dancers Abigail and Afronita (right) and fourth place went to opera singer Innocent Masuku
Sydnie said: ‘If you’d have told me on New Year’s Eve that this would be happening in my life five months later, I would have told you something. ‘So I’m very happy and a very lucky girl’
Sydnie appeared in the E4 programme Stage School which ran for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 showcasing the real struggles for students studying performing arts
Sydnie works as a receptionist at a local gym and previously insisted that if she won the £250,000 prize she would be returning to work on Monday morning
Speaking to The Mirror she joked: ‘I’ve already had two weeks off – and I’m on a zero-hours contract. I have rent to pay!’
Despite her victory, viewers at home took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their dismay at the result of Sunday night’s final, fuming: ‘Total fix. She IS a professional performer.’
‘I believe you’ve got singles and professional singer reeks of being rigged and a fix’.
‘An absolute fix and she murdered Somewhere Over The Rainbow. And she’s a “professional”…’.
‘Sydnie Christmas a PROFESSIONAL singer, with a song already on Spotify. Has won Britain got talent. What a total fix, so glad I stopped watching that s**t years and years ago!!!’
‘She also shouldn’t have won as she’s already a PROFESSIONAL singer.’
‘Saw on social media if true that Sydnie Christmas was in a production of Starlight Express in Germany that’s sounds professional to me.’
The reaction in response to Sydnie’s victory comes after similar sentiments expressed by fans at at the start of the audition process.
Sydnie works as a receptionist at a local gym and previously insisted that if she won the £250,000 prize she would be returning to work on Monday morning.
Speaking to The Mirror she joked: ‘I’ve already had two weeks off – and I’m on a zero-hours contract. I have rent to pay!’
She has dreamt of being able to work full time on the West End and is hopeful that BGT will be a stepping stone to make that dream a reality.
‘In a year’s time, I hope I’m living my dream. I want to be doing what I love for a living instead of rolling towels and making shakes!’
Before her BGT audition, Sydnie was considering turning her back on her dreams.
Sydnie said: ‘If you’d have told me on New Year’s Eve that this would be happening in my life five months later, I would have told you something.
‘So I’m very happy and a very lucky girl. I’ve done loads of auditions to get into the West End. It’s always knock backs, always that you don’t fit.
‘All my mates have got babies and getting married. I’m still trying to afford rent in London! So I thought in my head because nothing was happening for me I’ll give it one last go… and here we are today!’
Sydnie has had lots of family support during the process with her grandmothers (pictured) watching her first audition at the Palladium
And her long term boyfriend, a fellow musical actor, Max Rizzo from Sicily, has been there to support her. Max is currently signed by an agency who specialise in rising stars
She was the favourite to take the top spot ahead of the final after winning her semi-final heat with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way that wowed judges
Sydnie appeared in the E4 programme Stage School which ran for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 showcasing the real struggles for students studying performing arts.
The show followed an array of situations ranging from romantic fallouts to stage dramas.
Sydnie has had lots of family support during the process with her grandmothers watching her first audition at the Palladium.
And her long term boyfriend, a fellow musical actor, Max Rizzo from Sicily, has been there to support her. Max is currently signed by an agency who specialise in rising stars.
She was the favourite to take the top spot ahead of the final after winning her semi-final heat with her rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way that wowed judges.
After her performance on Sunday’s final judge Amanda said: ‘I know how long you have waited for this moment, it was utterly spellbinding and perfect in every way. It was just gold dust.’
Fellow judge Bruno added: ‘That is what I call a show-stopping performance, you took my breath away!’
Alesha said: ‘You just radiate hope and joy and light – and there was something about that performance and that emotion, I felt it move through my body with you.’
The golden buzzer recipient did face some controversy at the start of the audition process as many fans accused the show for being fixed once viewers realised Sydnie already had a musical career
Sydnie has worked on cruise ships including the Royal Caribbean International, where she starred as Rizzo in the musical Grease
She made her debut in London as one of the lead voices in Lazarus, featuring the music of David Bowie, at the King’s Cross Theatre and shared a snap backstage of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson after he attended the show
Simon then commented: ‘That was really something special. That lyric felt so personal to you about what you must have wanted over the years with a God-given talent like that and for whatever reason you’ve been ignored. I actually felt very emotional.’
The golden buzzer recipient did face some controversy at the start of the audition process as many fans accused the show for being fixed once viewers realised Sydnie already had a musical career.
Sydnie has worked on cruise ships including the Royal Caribbean International, where she starred as Rizzo in the musical Grease.
She made her debut in London as one of the lead voices in Lazarus, featuring the music of David Bowie, at the King’s Cross Theatre and shared a snap backstage of Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson after he attended the show.
She then went on to appear in a German production of Starlight Express in 2019 as Belle the Bar Car.
