I would take anything coming from any news outlet, but especially a tabloid outlet, with tons of salt. At best I suspect it was taken out of context. Context is everything. It was most likely a bait and switch tactic, as in, the hack said something like, 'what do you think of those British fans who slander/stalk/send hate mail/do crazy things/<insert other adjective here> to you?'. To which she probably replied as evasively as possible and they picked the most salacious bit and then conveniently forgot to add the context. People very rarely just spout out random xenophobia unprompted, particularly when they have a lucrative public image to protect.

I'm always shocked as to how there are people who still believe what they read in the tabloids. I mean seriously. I can only assume that some people are very gullible, and others, they just want to believe. But hey-ho.

Also, taking those comments literally for a moment, then culturally a country is often defined by it's press, and you know what, globally, the UK has an awful reputation for being particularly brutal and unethical; and that was before the phone hacking stuff. Just like other countries we nationally take the p*ss out of (like Germany, US, Italy, etc), have no idea of how they are perceived globally, most of us here in the UK have no idea of how we are perceived globally. It ain't pretty.

I have been around a long time and the things they try to insinuate in mags is diabollockable, othertimes people court the press. I think quotes can be twisted to make headlines at the end of the day, if the girl can dance people will vote if she cant she out on her ear. I think the winner will be Jason Donovan and it will be nice to see Kristina show her stuff she hasnt the best of celeb dancers although she did have a catch with Joe the boxer from Wales.

Worry not, dear, of course you're not unpatriotic. There are just some large sections of British society with whom you do not see eye to eye.
As a confirmed ex-pat, will join you in a glass of vino to drink a toast to 'vive la différence' (meaning you look that way and I'll look this). Have an olive.

Oh, Brendan, what are you doing here? thought you were meant to be rehearsing! OK, what are you drinking?

I've been to Oz more than once and in the majority of cases Australians tell it how it is. The wife of a friend who is out there on a 3 year contract tells how a couple of Aussies were asking some personal questions. Feeling uncomfortable yet not wanting to offend she prevaricated until one of her inquisitors said "Stop pussyfooting around - if you don't want to answer just say so." There was no intention of rudeness - they simply got a little impatient with her typically British diffidence.

Perhaps this was the case with Holly and if she can take it as well as dish it out I can't see that it's worth complaint about.

<... takes olive. Take another.... runs away with the jar....>