Amanda Holden’s decision to release a cover version of “Over the Rainbow” for the NHS has been met with mockery.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge said she had initially recorded the cover for a separate musical project, but had been encouraged to release the song for charity after speaking to Marks & Spencer bosses, who are involved in the project.
“When Marks & Spencer and I were chatting last week we remembered this song and lyrically it feels more relevant now than ever,” Holden said in a statement. “My record label VirginEMI have kindly agreed to put the song out with all proceeds going to support this wonderful cause for the NHS.”
All proceeds from the single, which is available to stream and download now, will go to NHS Charities Together, which is supporting staff, volunteers and patients impacted by coronavirus across the country.
Despite Holden’s good intentions, many have reacted to the news with jokes.
“Honestly, I would give money to stop Amanda Holden releasing a song,” wrote one person on Twitter.
Another wrote: “Amanda Holden releasing a song in the middle of all of this. Have we not suffered enough as a nation?”
“2020 has been a terrible year,” tweeted another. “This is going to push me over the edge.”
Holden has been actively involved in both singing and the Covid-19 pandemic in recent weeks, having serenaded Captain Tom Moore on her radio show for his birthday, and spread debunked conspiracy theories on Twitter.
In a since-deleted tweet, Holden urged her followers to support a petition that claimed 5G masts were responsible for the spread of coronavirus.
A spokesperson for Holden later claimed that she did not support the conspiracy and had tweeted a link to the petition by mistake.
