Jade Thirlwall claims reality TV 'is just cruel'

Jade Thirlwall just voiced her opinion over how toxic the entertainment industry can be.

Labelling the field a rather “savage” place, the songstress, who shot to stardom after winning UK’s The X Factor, when she was just 15 years old, admitted that it was a very tough environment for aspiring artists.

In her conversation with The Independent, the 32-year-old pop singer mentioned, "I don’t think that kind of show can exist anymore. We’re in a different place now.”

"We wouldn’t put someone that’s mentally unwell on a TV screen and laugh at them while they sing terribly. The concept of a joke act on a show is just cruel. It’s all very Roman empire. But then at the same time, was it not the best training ever for me to enter the music industry?" the Power singer further stated.

Thirlwall also explained in her conversation, how starring in reality TV shows is more challenging than we often realize.

The Sweet Melody crooner, who is a part of Little Mix, that comprises of two other stars, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and former member, Jesy Nelson, revealed that she was initially "conflicted" about The X Factor.

"I don’t know anyone that’s come off that show and not had some sort of mental health issue on the back of it, but also, even now, personally I’m conflicted criticizing [it], because it changed my life,” Thirlwall said.

She continued, "I was from a very normal working-class family up north, I had tried sending demos in to labels, I’d gigged all over, I was doing everything I could to make it, and I needed a show like that to give me a chance."

"It’s so savage, this machine that we’re a part of. Even back then, we knew how lucky we were every day that we were still signed,” Jade Thirlwall concluded.