X Factor judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has stepped up her security after an obsessive fan gained a work placement in the music industry by faking an identity as the star’s personal assistant.
Aurelie Tuti pretended to be Ms Fernandez-Versini’s employee to recommend herself for a role in the London office of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which works with singers such as Sir Tom Jones and Beyoncé.
French-born Ms Tuti created a fake profile as the PA on the LinkedIn website. Having used the ruse to gain a six-week placement as an assistant in the Sony office last year, the 23-year-old then emailed hundreds of other people in the music industry looking for another job.
With her CV now containing experience at Sony, she got work at the London office of another company, Concorde Media, for a few days last month before the firm realised there was a problem and she was released.
A well-placed source said Ms Fernandez-Versini had ‘beefed up’ her security in the wake of the incident, adding: ‘Cheryl was worried about it so she has looked again at her security as a precaution. This has been a strain on her.’
Ms Tuti said she was thrown out of the backstage area at The X Factor final last year, having found her way in as she attempted to meet her idol.
