‘Britain’s Got Talent’ finalist Julia Carlile has undergone the first of her surgeries, paid for by show producer Simon Cowell.
Earlier this year, Julia made it through to the grand finale of ‘BGT’ as a member of the dance troupe MerseyGirls.
The group revealed prior to their performance that it could well be the last time they all dance together, as 15-year-old Julia was to undergo surgery for her scoliosis, which could leave her unable to perform.
However, when it was revealed that another type of surgery - which costs around £78,000 - was available in the US, music mogul Simon stepped in and offered to foot the medical bills.
MerseyGirls posted a Twitter update on Tuesday (25 July), revealing that Julia was in recovery from the first of the ops, also posting a photo of the teenager in her hospital bed.
The post said: “We are so proud of her and missing her so much want to give her a MASSIVE HUG, our girl is a fighter.”
Speaking about Simon’s decision to pay for her vertebral body tethering procedure - an operation that involves surgeons fixing screws into the back - Julia told the Liverpool Echo last month: “I’m beyond happy and it means we can carry on dancing together for the rest of our lives.
“He didn’t have to do it and he has changed my life. There are no words to thank him for how grateful we are. It’s just unbelievable.”
MerseyGirls - who changed their name from Just Us earlier in the competition - received the Golden Buzzer from ‘BGT’ judge Alesha Dixon early on in this year’s series.
They eventually made it through to the final, finishing in ninth place, with musician Tokio Myers being crowned the winner.
Simon Cowell brushed off the controversy, though, insisting: “I see it as a testament to how we are as a country. We want everyone to do well, no matter where they are from. It’s a positive not a negative.”
However, by the time she made it through to the live finals, producers were accused of exploiting a vulnerable woman, with reports repeatedly suggesting she was struggling to cope with the media attention surrounding her.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Simon Cowell has later said: “Looking back on it all, it has become clear to me that we didn't handle the situation with Susan as well as we could have. Yet to be honest, when I analyse exactly what happened, I don't know that I could have done it any differently.”
Although Simon Cowell later allowed her to perform again at the end of the show, it was a memorably uncomfortable moment for BGT viewers, who questioned whether children should be allowed to take part in such a high-pressure competition.
However, David was met with a backlash from viewers when he made the unpopular decision to put through Christian Spridon, after his *ahem* unique take on Tom Jones’s Sex Bomb.
Claiming she was“relieved” to have been let go early, she added: “[Simon] was hours late. We would have to start at 9am and he wouldn't get there until 1pm. It was disrespectful to me, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan. Throughout my career, if I have a call time of 9am, I'll be there at 8.30am ready to go. Simon didn't work like that, it was his party and he did it his way.
“It wasn't what I wanted to do anyway, I wanted to act. So when it didn't work out I wasn't bothered, it meant I could go back to doing what I really wanted to do."
J-Lo later insisted: “I don’t think I’m any racier than any other female pop artist. OK, I’ll wear a sexy outfit, but I think it’s more because my body shape’s a little different to other body shapes, so that’s not very fair.”
Eventually, the company issued a statement, insisting: “There has been speculation on the internet that Britain's Got Talent finalist Ronan Parke was known to and worked with Syco/Sony Music before entering the show. There is no truth in this story whatsoever. Ronan first came to Syco/Sony's attention when he entered this year's competition.”
Simon also addressed the controversy live on air, claiming: “There has been an allegation made in the papers - not in the papers actually, on the Internet - that Ronan Parke had a previous recording contract with me, that I’d bet him beforehand, both of which are complete and utter lies. He entered the show of his own accord, he’s 12 years old, this is a deliberate smear campaign.”