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‘X Factor’ Contestant Simone Battle Commits Suicide [Report]

By Niki Cruz
Published on: 05:04 PST, Sep 6, 2014

X Factor star Simone Battle of the girl group G.R.L. has died. The 25-year-old contestant on the U.S. show was under Simon Cowell’s wing in the competition.

Sadly, TMZ reports Simone Battle was found hanging in her closet in an apparent suicide. The young singer was found in her bedroom closet around 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning.

Upon the news of the X Factor contestant’s death, RCA Records, Reign Deer Entertainment, Robin Antin, and Kemosabe Records released a statement.

?”We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the loss of Simone Battle of G.R.L. Simone was an exceptional young talent and human being, and we are all devastated to learn of her passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this time.”

Initially, reports hit the web of Simone’s death when producer Derek Butler tweeted about the news on Twitter.

“I’m still in shock and in disbelief to have confirmed the death of my childhood friend @SimoneBattle.”

Simone Battle became a popular contestant on the X Factor U.S. series back in 2011. Robin Antin, the creator of the Pussycat Dolls, named her as a new member of the second generation group of the Pussycat Dolls after her success on the X Factor competition. The girls, including Simone, decided to change the Pussycat Dolls moniker to G.R.L.

Battle’s group went as far as releasing a popular single with Pitbull titled “Wild Wild Love,” and were celebrating the release of their new single “Ugly Heart” just this week.

Her last official tweet was on September 2 and she seemed to be in good spirits.

The G.R.L. twitter hasn’t addressed what’s probably a devastating death to their family. The last tweet was about their next single.

Upon hearing the sad news of Simone’s passing, fans and industry officials took to Twitter to express their grief.

[Image via Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]

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