N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos has called for “fairness and the truth” across UK media as she campaigns for independent press regulation.
Campaign for independent regulation
The pop singer, 38, has previously discussed how her life “fell apart” after she was arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs in 2013, following an elaborate sting for The Sun On Sunday. The charges against the star were dismissed in 2014 after prosecution witness and “Fake Sheikh” journalist Mazher Mahmood was found guilty of tampering with evidence. He was jailed for 15 months in 2016.
Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Contostavlos explained that her new campaign hopes to “give some meaning and purpose behind all the chaos” that left her reputation in tatters.
The chart-topper said: “I’m in quite a healed place at the moment, which is why I’m able to do something like this and start this campaign. I don’t understand why there’s such a big fear around simple regulation. All I ask for is fairness and the truth.”
Criticism of IPSO
Contostavlos is advocating for a truly independent media regulator which the press does not control, fund or appoint, and has the power to “investigate, fine and protect people”, according to her Change.org petition. The star discussed the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), which is the independent regulator for the majority of the UK’s newspaper and magazine industry, funded by member publications.
Contostavlos said: “Ipso isn’t independent of the press, because it is funded and run by the press itself. The press are essentially regulating themselves. It’s really coming down to ethics.”
Press power and social media
The former X Factor judge also claimed that the press has “unlimited power”, and added: “The press is one of the biggest corporations in the world.” Contostavlos was also asked by presenters Susanna Reid and former politician Ed Balls whether the regulation of social media was a priority for her. She said: “As far as I’m concerned, it all starts with a press story. The social media rolls off the back of a press story, so it’s still stemming from the press. Even if you know there’s a story and 90% of the people that see it are on socials, it started from that press story. The social media is following suit.”
Background
Contostavlos is best known for singing in hip-hop group N-Dubz who had hits with songs including I Need You, Girls and Number 1, featuring Tinchy Stryder. In 2011 she became a judge on popular reality singing series The X Factor where she helped girl group Little Mix win, and a year later she released her debut solo album, The Female Boss. The Camden-born star has released two autobiographies, and her 2025 memoir Judgement details the highs and “unimaginable lows” of her music career, including her collapsed drugs trial. The Sun has been contacted for comment.
