Anyone on Facebook or Twitter has likely already seen 13-year-old Rebecca Black’s amateur music video for “Friday” — and chances are, it was accompanied by some sort of derogatory caption.
While Rebecca’s auto-tuned ditty is being hailed as the “worst song ever” by online outlets and social media users (and has garnered notoriety for all of the wrong reasons), the teen’s viral video has caught the attention of music master Simon Cowell, who is intrigued by the public’s apparently overwhelming disdain to the would-be singer.
“I love [Rebecca] [and] the fact that she’s gotten so much publicity,” Simon told People on Friday. “People are so upset about the song, but I think it’s hysterical. I want to meet her.”
He added, “Anyone who can create this much controversy within a week, I want to meet. I love people like that.”
Rebecca, an aspiring eighth-grade singer from Anaheim Hills, Calif., debuted “Friday” on YouTube after her parents paid $2,000 to Ark Music Factory record label for the pre-written song and the production of the accompanying video.
Click HERE to watch “Friday”!
Since its initial posting on YouTube on February 10, the video has been viewed upwards of 23 million times and spawned numerous parodies and vicious comments, including a remark that asks Rebecca to “cut herself, get an eating disorder and die.”
The young songstress appeared on “Good Morning America” on, appropriately, Friday to address the hurtful comments, and admitted she was moved to tears when she saw the viewer comment backlash to her prized musical endeavor.
“When I first saw all these nasty comments I did cry,” she told “GMA” on Friday. “I felt like this was my fault and I shouldn’t have done this and this is all because of me. Now I don’t feel that way.”
The young brunette proceeded to sing a couple of lines from the national anthem (sans musical accompaniment) to prove she can carry a tune, before admitting she doesn’t consider herself to be an exceptional vocalist.
“I think I have talent on some level,” Rebecca told the morning show. “I don’t think I’m the worst singer, but I don’t think I’m the best singer.”
Despite all of the crushing negativity, Rebecca’s “worst song ever” quickly earned a spot on iTunes’ Top 100 song list and is currently at #29 – outperforming tunes by Kanye West, the cast of “Glee” and Rebecca’s idol/crush, Justin Bieber.
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