The Voice UK contestant Tai Bantick hits back at online haters

The Voice UK contestant Tai Bantick has hit back at online trolls ahead of Saturday’s semi-final..

18-year-old Tai, a Music Student from Stevenage, performed the Curtis Mayfield cover of Move On Up by Lion Babe Bersion at the auditions. She is one of eight finalists on The Voice 2018.

She’s one of two acts in Team Will.i.am and has unfortunately been on the receiving end of online abuse.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s live show, Tai said: “I didn’t realise how badly people would take to me.”

She admitted to being “hurt” by the comments directed at her by some viewers.

Tai explained: “There’s no in-between I’m either loved or really hated and I’ve struggled emotionally with it. On Facebook all the videos and stuff, I’m the only person who’s got angry reactions and that hurts cos I’m not a bad person.”

The teenager suggested to the Winsford Guardian that she was being picked on because of her confidence.

“I sing with attitude, I’m quite different and I’m very confident,” she declared. “I know who I am and people are kind of scared of that.”

“I don’t feel like I’ve said anything wrong… I have the mindset of its sink or swim and I come across as so brash.”

Tai concluded: “I’m just being myself. I’m just going to keep doing that and for the people who do understand it I’m really, really, appreciate them.”

Joining Tai on Team Will is 16-year-old student Donel Mangena from Southampton.

Meanwhile, those in The Voice UK live shows for Team Tom are 20-year-old Lucy Milburn from Sheffield, and 18-year-old student Ruti Olajugbagbe from Essex.

On Team Jennifer are 16-year-old music student Gayatri Nair from Peckham, London, and duo Belle Voci. The operatic pair are made up of friends 26-year-old Sophie from Norwich and 25-year-old Emily from Mayfair.

Finally, on Team Olly are 27-year-old student Lauren Bannon from Weymouth and 29-year-old musician Jamie Grey from Redcar. He returned to The Voice UK this year after getting no turns last year.

The Voice UK continues this Saturday on ITV with the first live show of the series.

Only four acts can go through to the Final and for the first time this series, the power lies with the viewers at home, as the public vote to save their favourite singers.

The Voice UK’s live semi-final airs from 8:30PM on Saturday, March 31 with the results airing the same night.