The estranged wife of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney was livid about the British tabloid media while on television last week, creating quite a stir; she now says her rant has helped her find support.

Heather Mills claimed repeatedly last week that the media has been conducting a “hate campaign” against her ever since she and Paul McCartney announced they would separate, affecting her life severely as well as that of her 4-year-old daughter.

While on British morning chat show GMTV last Wednesday, Heather became increasingly emotional as she criticized the media for creating an offensive and unreal image of her.

“They make up such lies,” she said. “They've called me a whore, a gold-digger, a fantasist, a liar, the most unbelievably hurtful things, and I've stayed quiet for my daughter, but we've had death threats, I've been close to suicide.”

The 39-year-old activist, who campaigns against landmines and cruelty towards animals, broke down in tears: “I'm so upset about this. I've had worse press than a pedophile or a murderer and I've done nothing but charity for 20 years.”

During the show, Mills accused the British press of running a “hate campaign” against her through unmerciful articles that have had her “living in a prison” since the whole controversy started.

A week later, Heather appeared on the same show, this time in better spirits. “It's been unbelievably cathartic,” she said. “It's the difference between being in prison and being on parole.”

The 39-year-old expressed her gratitude for the “amazing” support she has been receiving since last week’s outburst. “It's heartwarming to hear that there are so many like-minded people who want to be told the truth. I'm so happy.”

Heather and McCartney married in 2002, raising eyebrows as the veteran singer’s first wife and love of his life, Linda McCartney, had died only a few years before from cancer. The couple welcomed daughter Beatrice Milly McCartney in 2003; the girl turned 4 on Oct. 28.

Last summer, the two announced they were separating and controversy ensued, with the media taking McCartney’s side and rallying against Heather, who was dubbed a gold digger.

The former spouses are in the process of establishing a financial settlement. Last week, when asked by the show’s host about the huge amount of money she has allegedly asked for from McCartney, she angrily replied:

“I have been offered nothing, OK, nothing... How do you know if I even want any money? I'm £1.5 million in debt in lawyers' fees, and that's as much as I can say or I go to jail, for telling the truth.”

In other interviews she granted last week, Heather appeared to be on the edge of paranoia: “We've had death threats; I've been close to suicide. I considered killing myself because I thought if I am dead, my daughter can be safe with her father.”