In what has become an on-going pattern with the X Factor this year, the series has once again hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
As many of our UK readers will know, controversy struck the competition over the weekend when contestant Katie Waissel was saved over TreyC Cohen. This, despite forgetting her words in the final sing-off (again) and being labelled the inferior singer of the two by Simon Cowell – who still went on to vote for her to stay.
It is the pair’s mentor Cheryl Cole, however, who is the subject of the most intense critique, after out-rightly refusing to cast her vote; a vote which very well could have been instrumental in bringing about a different outcome.
Now, new reports detail how viewers have made hundreds of official complaints about the occurrences, with many calling for Cheryl Cole to be axed from the judging panel.
Full story below…
Via MTV:
Angry The X Factor fans have urged bosses to sack judge Cheryl Cole, after she failed to chose between her acts Katie Waissel and Treyc Cohen on Sunday’s results show.
The Girls Aloud star, who refused to vote for either Waissel or Cohen, has triggered over 800 viewers complaints to Ofcom over her decision, which saw Treyc eliminated from the talent show.
According to reports, the Promise This singer fled the XF studios ‘in tears’ after Treyc left the competition, despite reportedly receiving three times as many votes as Katie.
Fans are allegedly ‘furious’ after 24-year old Katie allegedly said “Sod it” when she forgot her words during her save-me song, and STILL made it through to the next live show.
Speaking of Cheryl’s controversial decision, one fan wrote: “She’s paid a lot of money to be a judge and she failed to do her job. She’s spineless. If she can’t do it then she should be sacked.”
Another claimed: “Regardless of what you think of Katie and Treyc, Cole has just forfeited her right to be a judge.”
Meanwhile, reports have suggested that Katie, and Cheryl’s remaining contestants, Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson, have complained to Simon Cowell about the ‘little time’ they spend with their mentor.
As we reported yesterday, axed singer Treyc revealed that Chezza only sees the girls on rehearsal day, with a source now telling the Daily Mail: “The girls did speak to Simon and complained that Cheryl spends barely any time with them.”
“Cheryl went to Los Angeles last week, but it didn’t even matter really as she only ever really sees the girls on Fridays for a final run-through, when other judges like Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh are working so hard – and Simon, of course, is spending all his time with One Direction.”
Why does this not surprise me in the slightest? If this year’s series has highlighted one thing, it’s that the show is much more a TV spectacle than it is a talent contest. Truth be told, it’s been like this for years. However, fundamentally different now, is the fact that the viewing audience are becoming more aware of this; a fact evidenced by the mass outcry surrounding the show’s use of autotune during the audition phase, to Gamu-Gate, and now this.
Capitalist greed at its worst. The X-Factor has been generating big bucks for the longest, and would generate even more (in the long-run) if it concentrated on primarily producing music stars. Instead the show seems adamant on creating disposable TV ‘stars’, while in the process trying to take the audience for dummies.
Still, it’s pretty much a given that the show will continue to be a major money-spinner – for the foreseeable future. However, the antics of this past weekend has left the saltiest of tastes in my mouth and the mouths of many others.