Fantasia Receives Racist Hate Mail

American Idol alum, Fantasia Barrino, has increased her security measures after receiving some threatening hate mail this weekend. The Color Purple star was reportedly sifting through her fan-mail following a Friday night (Feb. 19) performance at Los Angeles' Pantages Theater, when she came across a bit of unwanted text. Fantasia's manager told TMZ that the singer received one particularly disturbing letter that included racial slurs and death threats.

An excerpt from the alarming letter read "go back where you came from and die." The letter's author claimed that he worked as a security guard at Fox studios during the period when Fantasia appeared on American Idol. The singer and her team immediately reported the letter to the Pantages Theater security, who then contacted the LAPD. Although security was instantly elevated following the discovery of the letter, Fantasia told TMZ that she would not let the threat affect her work or well-being. "I will not be defeated by one isolated person's hatred," she said.

Fantasia Barrino was the winner of American Idol season 3. She has released two studio albums since her time on the show, earning her eight Grammy nods. In 2007, she landed a lead role in the Broadway adaption of The Color Purple and she currently stars in her own VH1 reality show, Fantasia For Real.