British Prime Minister Gordon Brown voiced support and sympathy Wednesday for Jade Goody, a reality television star who sparked a racism row with India who is now dying of cancer.
The 27-year-old mother-of-two shot to international fame for taunting Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on the British television programme "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2007.
With death looming, Goody is facing criticism for selling her story to the news media to raise money for her two children, but Brown paid tribute to her bravery under the circumstances.
"It's very sad and indeed tragic that someone so young has got this deadly disease of cancer and it's very sad indeed that the treatment that has been given has not been successful," he said at a monthly press conference.
"I think everyone has their own ways of dealing with these problems and her determination to help her family is something that we've got to applaud."
Goody is due to marry her fiance Jack Tweed, 21, on Sunday. Her publicist Max Clifford has defended her right to make money from her situation, including selling media rights to cover the weekend ceremony.
The former dental nurse initially gained notoriety in Britain for her stint on the 2002 edition of the reality television show "Big Brother".
She quickly won a following for her chaotic appearance and her often questionable command of general knowledge and the English language, at one point asking: "Rio de Janeiro, ain't that a person?"
But she tarnished her image in 2007 after she was accused of racism and bullying towards Shetty, whom she called "Shilpa Poppadom", when the pair appeared on "Celebrity Big Brother".
Eighteen months later, Goody sought to tackle her critics head-on by appearing in an Indian version of the show, called "Bigg Boss".
Brown, who at the time of the Shetty row condemned Goody after witnessing anger about her during a visit to India, said Wednesday she deserved support for her current plight.
"I wish her well and I wish her family well and I think the whole country will be worried and anxious about her health," he said.
