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Leona Lewis's ex demanding million-dollar payoff

By Eleanor Young on Friday 9 July 2010

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Leona Lewis lands a Glee cameo

Uh oh, we spy a feud brewing! Leona Lewis’s split with childhood sweetheart Lou Al-Chamaa is set to turn ugly, after her cheeky ex has demanded a million-dollar payout.

SEE LEONA’S STYLE HIGHS AND LOWS HERE!

The electrician turned Sony talent scout is reportedly demanding a £1.5 million payout from the star, after claiming he helped her to become famous.

It’s said Leona’s bitter ex is telling friends that he filled in the star’s X Factor form, and now plans to use this as evidence for his demands.

'He believes he has played a huge role in Leona's success,' one insider told The Sun.

‘They have been together for more than ten years and he has encouraged her to fulfil her potential.’

And now it seems Lou believes he is entitled to some of Leona’s earnings.

‘He believes he has the rights of a common-law husband,' the insider added.

‘He even filled in her X Factor application form and believes he then played a huge role in her success - not only as her partner but also professionally within his new position in the music industry. He claims he owns a piece of some of her songs and should benefit financially.'

Leona and Lou split back in June, with reports suggesting the star and her other half grew apart after the Bleeding Love singer's constant travelling.

Leona Lewis - Leona Lewis splits with childhood sweetheart - Celebrity News - Marie Claire

At first the separation was said to be amicable, but it seems it could soon get messy if Leona doesn’t meet Lou’s demands.

The British beauty has reportedly already offered him their £600,000 Hackney home in order to make a clean break, but it seems Lou has his eyes on a bigger prize.

Do you think Lou deserves a payout for helping Leona rise to fame? Or is her non-famous ex just trying to cash in on her success? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.

SEE LEONA LEWIS’S STYLE HISTORY HERE!

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Friday 9 July 2010

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I think he's a bloody joker. Really 1.5 million for filling out her application form? well the staff that processed her application form may as well claim some money from her. I'd be appalled at any kind of law that would allow him claim that kind of money from her, what kind of world would it be if we each had to pay our exes after a break up. Very distasteful!
Comment by Neo on July 09 12:38

I think he should leave her alone. She's a brilliantly talented young lady who has an amazing talent whether he helped her fill in a form or not. She worked so hard on her own through the x factor experience and she has been grafting ever since. Lou has always wanted to be a singer and so is envious of her success. I honistly dont think that he has any grounds legally either. Stop feeling so bitter and move on.
Comment by Louis on July 09 12:39

It is with dismay that I read of Lou's claims to Leona's money. His own career as a "talent scout" for Sony Music is as a result of being connected to Leona. Without her name he would never be known by the public. To be honest he trained as an electrician and although there is nothing wrong with that, he was given the job by Sony as a result of Leona. Electrical training does not add up to talent scout. Whether or not he filled out the form for X factor, Leona was studying and performing music long before. She is well known for being a consumate and hard working professional. Too many times now we see the ex of someone leeching off their partners hard work and endeavours. At no time has Leona ever said anything negative about Lou and he had nothing to offer her but she stood by him. Now that the relationhip is over it is obvious what his motives were. I dont think he paid the tickets and his expenses when globe trotting with Leona. Shame on you Lou. Be a man and take a man's responsibitlies.
Comment by Jax Chapman on July 09 12:41

She did not have much confidence so I believe him. He deserves some recognition for sticking by her even though they have broken up now. I blame her commitment for her career breaking the relationship
Comment by serin on July 09 12:43

Gosh - have a bit of dignity! If he played such a massive role in making her famous, he should be able to make his own money by becoming a promoter extraordinaire...
Comment by Sam on July 09 13:05

sure do heres a man who has stayed in the background ,not openly spoken out and as they were engaged were a common law couple ,hes lether have the spot light and suppported ,so yes ,shes made millions i think 1.5 in these days is minute as to what she will earn ,she moved on so why not ,let it go say thank you keep her life sugary and innocent as im sure if this gets dirty ,that image will be tarnish ,pay and go and seal with no tabloid sales etc
Comment by debs hutton on July 09 13:09

cheeky blighter, what kind of man behaves in such a way,he wasnt her husband, she didnt employ him, she did the hardwork and i am quite sure he has had more than the odd perk, he should shut up, move on and behave like an adult!!
Comment by kelly on July 09 13:25

I'm not surprised at all that Lou is now claiming $1.5m from Leona's bank balance. He should now seek help from Heather Mills coz I believe they have the same feathers!
Comment by Vincent Stewart on July 09 16:55

He has a point really coz like someone said she didn't have much confidence. What if he were female? Would we look at it differently? I don't blame him for trying to get some dollar out of her, I'm sorry but I would do the same! Being skint is NOT fun and he has supported her for 10 years. She gets paid a stupid amount in relation to the importance and responsibility of her job. Oh the poor girl has to travel a lot, staying in 5 star hotels no doubt. Nurses are much more important than Leona Lewis and if she earns such ridiculous sums so should they.
Comment by alex on July 09 17:48

he may of done her form for the x factor but he isnt the one with the best voices in the world. i dont see why leona should give him anything. 1.5 million thats just stupid! Â£1.50 more like!
Comment by mark on July 09 18:42

Have some dignity! He wouldnt be where he is without her. It is disgusting behaviour and greed has taken over him.
Comment by alice on July 09 21:45

she is loaded, she may as-well give it. Thing is she would have been massive regardless of X Factor as she had strong links in the industry,he's getting 600 for the house so maybe 500 grand she should give. He didnt help her with BleedingLove,that waas simon!
Comment by sunny chaggar on July 10 02:41

From what I've read a long time ago, she would not have even been on the X-Factor if it wasn't for him. He encouraged and talked her in to doing it. They were together for more than a decade. He probably does deserve something. If he takes the flat which is worth 600,000 and she gives him another 900,000 that seems very reasonable to me. She probably makes that amount for 1 concert. Doesn't seem like an outrageous demand.
Comment by peter on July 10 06:59

I just wanted to add a serious note about situations like this. A great friend of mine is going through the same thing. He had built up a tidy sum by simply working hard and being astute with his money. No quick fix. Now his ex partner (Who was up to his eyes in debt and was rescued by my friend including stopping him from continuing to be an "escort") following their split he is demanding half of any assets leaving my friend without any of his own earned assets. The cost of disputing it in court could wipe out my friend. Its so wrong. There are leeches in society who live their lives through others endeavours. It happens to everyone now, not just celebs.
Comment by Jax Chapman on July 10 08:09

Tell him to "Go boil his head"
Comment by BF on July 10 12:06

He deserves nothing. Give him a refill for his pen to replace the ink he used filling out the form..end of
Comment by Eve on July 10 12:56

Tell him to Piss Off!
Comment by Les on July 10 13:57

I guess what really upsets me is how someone who was your childhood sweetheart and thus for 10 years the best friends and keeper of all her fears, insecurities, goals and dreams can do this. I dont know the back story to the breakup but dumped nonfamous partners of celebs usually make such demands out of spite at being dumped for someone else. This doesnt seem to be the case here so he is throwing away 10 yrs of [almost half of his lifes] memories for...greed? How sad.
Comment by roger on July 10 19:46

he should not get a penny !!!! so what if he filled out the application form !! thats like me saying i held the door for someone and if i didnt they would have missed work!!!!!
Comment by a-h on July 10 19:55

Yes he deserves some of the credit and the money for helping, promoting and encoraging her in those difficult first steps to stardom
now she is got every thing, she should shear it.
Comment by Marisol Strickland on July 10 21:42

He wasn't with her for ten years because she had money and it is perfectly reasonable to argue that he may have supported, encouraged and promoted her talent, dreams and ambition. What seems clear is that the relationship has not survived in the face of her improved career - very sad, and I think she probably does owe him.
Comment by linda on July 11 08:05

What a low life, did he sing at any of the auditions or do anything remotely talented No!!!
It has been yet another case of a nobody hanging off the coat tails of someone elses fame.
Go and get your own fame and recognition, and stop using other people.
Comment by Debbie on July 11 21:08

they're not/were not married, so he can't claim her money! he doesn't deserve it neither, just because he supposedly filled in her form! i wish i could claim money after filling in my husband's forms, what a joke!
i think someone is bitter, and it leaves a very bad taste in the mouth!
Comment by clare on July 12 11:31

Ten years would qualify as a common law husband if they lived together and he's clearly helped and supported her career. I am not saying he deserves that much but I don't see why he should walk away with nothing. Women often get paid out in supportive roles spanning that length of time and less!
Comment by Amanda on July 12 13:41

Is he married to her? He obviosly wasn't bothered enough to make their relationship legal...
He should take what he has been offered and walk away.
Comment by Carol on July 12 15:47

Everyone who says no is guilty of having double standards. Simon Cowell gave his long-term girlfriend a pay-off after they broke up.
Comment by ChanelNo5 on July 18 21:46

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