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Fleur East Slams Claims She's Had Preferential Treatment To 'X Factor' Winner Ben Haenow

Fleur East Addresses Ben Haenow 'Favouritism' Claims
Daniel Welsh
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Fleur East has hit back at claims that Simon Cowell is giving her special treatment over last year’s ‘X Factor’ winner, Ben Haenow.

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Since last year’s ‘X Factor’ final, some fans have claimed that Fleur has been given preferential treatment over Ben, despite the fact that he was the public’s favourite week after week in last year’s competition, including the show where she performed her show-stopping take on ‘Uptown Funk’.

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Fleur East

However, Fleur - who was signed to Simon’s record label in the weeks after the ‘X Factor’ final - has insisted this is far from the case, telling Digital Spy: “I don't like hearing things like that.

“Obviously [‘X Factor’] is a competition, but me and Ben really liked each other and we were happy that we got to the final together.

“Simon devotes as much time to Ben as he does to me. I'm in the office all the time and I hear the buzz and everyone's as excited for Ben as they are for me.”

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Ben Haenow

She added: “I think there should be space for both of us to do our thing. I don't see why we should compete with each other.”

Fleur will finally release her much-anticipated debut single, ‘Sax’, on Friday (6 November), with a performance to follow on ‘X Factor’ two nights later.

Ben’s debut effort, on the other hand, was released with little fanfare last month, and featured vocals from US singer, Kelly Clarkson.

The pair both performed at the Oxford Street Christmas lights switch-on event on Sunday evening… but embarrassingly, Fleur was billed higher up the event than Ben, despite being the runner-up.

'X Factor' Runners Up
G4 (Series 1)(01 of11)
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This opera-singing quartet topped the UK album chart with their debut collection, going on to release three albums before splitting in 2007. They also had a top ten single with their cover of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. G4 briefly reunited for lead singer Jonathan Ansell's wedding two years later.That year's champion, Steve Brookstein, has hit out against 'The X Factor' several times, after he was dropped from Simon Cowell's record label less than a year after winning the competition. (credit:REX)
Andy Abraham (Series 2)(02 of11)
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Andy 'The Bin Man' Abraham is best known for representing the United Kingdom in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. His song 'Even If' finished in last place, bagging just 14 points overall. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay)
Ray Quinn (Series 3)(03 of11)
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One of the few occasions where the winner was actually the most successful contestant of the year, Ray didn't quite match up to the global stardom of Leona Lewis, but has enjoyed several stints in panto as well as on reality series 'Dancing On Ice'.He has released one post-'X Factor' album, the swing-themed 'Doing It My Way', which topped the chart when it was released in 2007. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay)
Rhydian Roberts (Series 4)(04 of11)
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We think if Leon Jackson had performed with Katherine Jenkins rather than Kylie Minogue, Rhydian would probably have been crowned champion in 2007. Not to worry, though, as Rhydian has released an impressive five albums - mostly classical and opera-inspired - since finishing in second place, most recently earlier this year.He's also toured the UK in productions of 'We Will Rock You' and 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', the latter of which saw him stripping off to just a pair of goldpants every night. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay)
JLS (Series 5)(05 of11)
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Between Alexandra Burke, Diana Vickers, Ruth Lorenzo and Eoghan 'Charisma' Quigg, series five was one of the most talented 'The X Factor' has ever seen.After finishing in second place, JLS went on to become one of the biggest acts in 'X Factor' history, releasing no less than five chart-topping singles, touring all over the UK and even lending their name to a range of condoms. They split up last year, but the members of JLS are still never far from the headlines. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay)
Olly Murs (Series 6)(06 of11)
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Who'd have thought that when he lost out to Joe McElderry in the sixth series of 'The X Factor' that Olly Murs would go on to become one of Britain's biggest male stars? Famed for his cheeky smile, his irresistible hooks and his tight trousers, Olly is currently gearing up to release his fourth single, and has so far in his career collaborated with Robbie Williams, Flo-Rida, Demi Lovato and even The Muppets. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay/Talkback Thames)
Rebecca Ferguson (Series 7)(07 of11)
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The whole top four of series seven were signed to Simon Cowell's record label after the final, with Rebecca releasing her debut album 'Heaven' to massive critical acclaim, even bagging two MOBO nominations.While Matt Cardle is still making music, his success has been eclipsed by Rebecca, as well as fellow finalists from that year, One Direction and Cher Lloyd. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay/Thames TV)
Marcus Collins (Series 8)(08 of11)
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Admittedly, Little Mix are a tough act to beat, so we won't compare the two, but nontheless Marcus has done well since finishing in second place.His self-titled debut album reached the top ten in the charts, which was followed by a stint as one of the leading roles in a UK touring production of 'Hairspray'. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay/Talkback Thames)
Jahmene Douglas (Series 9)(09 of11)
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Have to finalists from the same category ever been such polar opposites as James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas? While James has not so much bitten the hand that fed him as taken a huge chomp out of Simon Cowell's knuckles, runner-up Jahmene was always slightly more subdued than that.His debut release - which featured duets with Stevie Wonder and Nicole flippin' Scherzinger - shot to the top of the charts in 2013, with a follow-up currently being recorded. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay/Thames TV)
Nicholas McDonald(10 of11)
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Louis Walsh's 'Baby Bublé' finished in second place behind Sam Bailey, releasing an album of ballads, including Adele's 'Someone Like You', Daniel Bedingfield's 'If You're Not The One' and - of course - Westlife's 'Flying Without Wings', earlier this year.The jury's still out on whether his career will prove more fruitful than eventual winner Sam Bailey, who is still signed to Simon's Syco label. (credit:Rex/Jason Sheldon)
Fleur East (Series 11)(11 of11)
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Her 'Uptown Funk' performance may have been the moment of the series, but that wasn't enough to get the 'X Factor' crown.Fortunately, that didn't put Simon Cowell off signing her up, and a pop gem called 'Sax' was born. (credit:Brian Rasic via Getty Images)

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