But you're Rolling in it... Adele triggers online backlash after her recent comments on how much she has to pay in tax
By
Jenna Good
Last updated at 1:53 AM on 10th June 2011
In her relatively short career, Adele has amassed a fortune of millions.
Her fans praise the 23-year-old’s mature lyrics and considered music.
However, they’re none too impressed by her latest foray into ‘grown-up’ matters – tax.
It seems, the singer – full name Adele Adkins – hadn’t reckoned on HM Revenue and Customs wanting a share in her success.
Tax gaffe: Adele complained she has to pay 50% tax even though she's making millions from her highly successful singing career
Adele's comments were made in a recent interview with music magazine Q.
She said: 'I'm mortified to have to pay 50 percent! [While] I use the NHS, I can't use the public transport any more.
'Trains are always late, most state schools are s*** and I've gotta give you, like, four million quid - are you having a laugh?
'When I got my tax bill in from 19, I was ready to go and buy a gun and randomly open fire.'
However, judging by the reaction on Twitter, Adele's comments have hit a raw nerve with some fans many of whom will be feeling the pinch from the global economic fallout.
A user named @Outroversion tweeted: 'God that Adele pop singer is such a moron. Her comments on tax are both ignorant and self-aggrandising. I'm pretty sure it's just her way.'
Success: Adele appeared on Dancing With the Stars in the U.S. where she has clocked up a number one album and single
Adding to the resentment, @nicklibertine also told followers: 'Got my paycheque today. Looking at the amount I take home after tax and national insurance is just depressing. F*** you, Adele.'
Another Twitter user, raymondonia, commented: 'Adele i dont care if your rolling in the F-ing deep. Pay you tax and stop moaning. Wish i were paying 50%.'
And the backlash continued when one of Adele's songs was played on a BBC1 show about impoverished children, named Poor Kids.
Twitter user ObligedtoOffend noted: 'Playing adele who resents paying tax on show about child poverty. Appropriate.'
Some fans, however, were supportive of her views.
One argued: ‘Yes, she’s earned a lot of money, but she’s worked hard for it. Pretty sure most people who had to give up 50% of their fruits of labour would be just as annoyed.
‘I know I would’.
The singer will be expecting an even heftier tax bill when she picks up the royalties from her next album 21.
Her top-selling LP has sold more than 1,900,000 copies in the U.S. alone since its release earlier this year.
And, according to the Sunday Times, is worth an estimated £6m.
Her second album, 21, held on to the number one chart slot in the UK for a record-breaking 13 weeks while earlier this year she also became only the second ever artist to have two albums and two singles in the top five at the same time.
The Sunday Times placed Adele at number nine, the highest new entry, in
its list of the richest young music stars. Her company Melted Stone
showed £780,000 profit on £1.2m sales in 2008-9.
Adele isn’t the first star to complain about tax.
U2 were criticised for shifting their business interests out of Ireland to cut down on their bill.
The Beatles also famously devoted an entire song – Taxman – to the subject as a protest at their tax contributions.
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I think she's suggesting that 4m is a lot of money and she's not impressed with how it's being spent - i.e. that state schools are s***. I feel the same, I pay taxes, student loan, NI etc and recently had to use the NHS and was handed a 6 week waiting period for a further assesment and then 2 weeks later the operation. Sometimes it's annoying to pay for something that doesn't work the way you'd like it or need it to.
- Lauren King, London, 10/6/2011 13:37
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