KATIE Waissel`s distraught dad Maurice claims the X Factor singer has had death threats because she`s so hated by the public - and is losing the will to continue in the show.

He said: "I`ve had Katie sobbing on the phone to me every night. She`s had death threats sent to her over the internet, and we`ve had to ask the police to intervene."

The 24-year-old singer - who famously said, "I just want to be a legend, I want to create a legacy" - found herself in the bottom three in the first live show and has been struggling to win over viewers since.

Her worried dad added: "Only the other night, Katie said to me, `Dad, what`s the point in going on if everyone hates me?`.

"Let`s face it, X Factor has become a circus where only the strongest survive."

Katie, who is mentored by Cheryl Cole, has been particularly unpopular with fans since winning a place in the live shows with a dodgy performance at the judges` houses, ahead of fans` favourite Gamu Nhengu.

And she didn`t help her cause when popular Matt Cardle blasted her for allegedly exaggerating a story about the pair spending a night together.
sections: Celebrities