So Susan was going along, enjoying the fame rollercoaster, and not to mention a heck of a lot of royalties, which, in 2013, garnered her a net worth of $27 million! Now when those sorts of figures are announced, you’d expect charities and the like to start popping up asking for donations. But no, it was her brother, Gerry, who asked for a share of her earnings! Whilst her other siblings watched on somewhat flabbergasted, Gerry kept badgering Susan to give him the $60,000 sum he asked for!
Seems that old family feud was back, but with financial requests! When Boyle denied her brother of the funds, Gerry went for the cheap shot, and threatened to commit suicide if he wasn’t given the money! Isn’t that just awful? And the best part is his claim: he figured that whilst the media were asking questions of the family, he should be compensated – and that she “owed” him! So did Susan give her brother the money? Or did she draw the line?
Yep, Susan Boyle was Bullied Too!
Raise your hand if you’ve been victimized or bullied (by Regina George?), ever? Yeah, that’s a fair few. Our office too. Susan Boyle, like the rest of us, was bullied for being different. Yep, that old chestnut. Of course, Susan knew that stepping into the spotlight as an adult was going to attract the attention of haters too. But she bravely navigated the celebrity waves and charted her own course (heh).
In 2017, nasty insults were thrown at her by local teens (who in fact got even more aggressive, but we’ll get to that later on!), and Boyle, as the classy mature woman she is, held her head high and ignored them. Kids eh? Despite her hard front, Boyle later told media outlets that it did indeed get to her – and hey, we can appreciate that, it sucks! People suck, etc. “Who wouldn’t cry?” She told the Daily Mail. It brought back memories from her childhood and school bullies. If it continues, she'll most definitely want to the police… but Boyle is all about giving people a chance and the opportunity to see right from wrong. But that doesn’t mean she's a pushover, she told them!
Fighting Fit: Boyle’s 30 Pound Weight Loss
Now when Boyle stepped on that stage and opened her mouth to shock audiences, it not only fast-tracked her career, but it fast-tracked the makeover! With a jam-packed schedule – from interviews to appearances and performances, Susan Boyle was the town’s hot ticket! But with a busy schedule, it took its toll on her health. The singer was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. As you may know, this “lifestyle” Diabetes is the type that’s compatible: with a good diet and exercise, it can be fought!
Taking her health seriously, Boyle followed the doctor’s advice and embarked on a weight loss journey! She successfully lost 30 pounds, with the intent that she’s not only going to keep it off but maintain the changes to her diet and exercise regime, making it a lifestyle change! She told The Sun, “I needed to stop eating sweeties and cakes. It’s the bane of my life.” But for heaven's-sake, LET THEM EAT CAKE!
Getting Clucky? Boyle’s Plans to Adopt
It’s no secret that Susan Boyle loves children. After the two-year-long feud with her brother Gerry, and the resultant reconciliation, she was able to meet his grandson Alfie. “It was lovely,” Gerry said. “She couldn’t stop picking him up.” After the encounter, all Susan could talk about was having her own. But she wasn’t waiting around for some guy, nor IVF, and it’s been said that she’s considered adopting a child!
“I have so much love to give,” she told The Daily Mail. “I want to adopt a child who doesn’t have much, who I can really give something to. It’s a way of giving back to me. I love children, I always have but I couldn’t have them.” She admits that people don’t take her seriously on the subject, to which she optimistically replied, “They have a giggle at me. Let’s see.”
A Real-Life Rags to Riches Story
Perhaps one of the best things about Susan Boyle, apart from the way she got famous, is the fact she’s so relatable to the average Joe or Jane! That someone who appeared seemingly ordinary was, in fact, able to achieve something extraordinary. Before she got on stage for that fated Britain’s Got Talent performance, Boyle was struggling with not only losing her mother but being able to pay the bills!
Fast forward and that’s a dim memory, but she often reminds herself that there were hard times and obstacles to overcome first before finding fame. It’s like, check yo' self, type thing. We’re all for it! At the end of the day, Boyle reminds herself that everything’s going to be a-okay! “My goals are simple now,” she told The Sunday Post. “To have good friends and family around me and enjoy some money I have earned within reason and ensure I never have to worry about paying my gas and electric again.”