X Factor judge Simon Cowell faced accusations of rigging the result of last night’s X Factor vote as the tabloid newspapers, so often the champions of the hugely popular show, began to turn on the man they like to call “Mr. Nasty”.
Twin act John and Edward Grimes (aka Jedward) survived a popular vote while singer Lucie Jones was shown the door. The two acts ended up at the bottom of the heap in a phone vote, and it was up to the judges to decide which one to throw out. But if the judges are split 2-2, the results of the public vote come back into play. Cowell had the deciding vote with the panel split 2-1 in Lucie’s favour, and he decided for the twins.
The Daily Mirror’s headline (because the X Factor has long been headline news in Britain) was “Farce Factor” while rival The Sun wrote: “‘Ward a Load of Cobblers“. Quoting fans, the latter newspaper added: “Cowell’s gone too far … show is ruined.”
Readers may reasonably ask if any of this matters. Well, it may matter to Cowell, who has become one of pop music’s most successful managers through his appearances on X Factor and similar singing competitions here and in the United States. It may also mean something to ITV, the channel which airs the show in the UK. With peak audiences approaching 15 million, its advertising revenue from the biggest show on British TV must be healthy to say the least.
For those who follow the show, and care about it, many feel that Cowell’s decision to refer the decision back to the popular vote, rather than voting off Jedward, smacked of a stitch-up. He had been Jedward’s most vocal critic for weeks, and popular opinion would appear to support the argument that loser Lucie had far more talent than the twins, whose performances have been variously described as “bizarre” and “ridiculous”.
Theories abound as to why Cowell might decide to save the twins. The most popular is money — like them or loathe them, the twins seem to get the crowds going and Cowell might be looking ahead to the X Factor tour when the show is over. The removal of strong vocalist Lucie may also remove a potential threat to the singing acts on the show which he endorses.
Will his decision backfire? Will less people tune in to the show because they feel the whole thing is rigged? Or has Cowell pulled it off again by ramping up the stakes and getting the nation talking about the show again? It wouldn’t be the first time.
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This country is funny: You blame Simon for allowing the public decide who should go. Simon did the right thing, well, according to you the public
- Posted by AnthonyIf its going to be left upto the public vote every week, why bother with the sing off. Just announce who got the least votes
- Posted by tony[...] Whether the 58-year-old’s comments will bother Cowell, the show’s other judges or the ITV channel which airs the hugely successful series is far from clear. They may be watching the upcoming viewing figures closely, however, after many fans vowed not to watch the programme again after Cowell’s recent antics. [...]
- Posted by Sting calls X Factor “appalling” | The HAMPTON ReportEverybody knows that all this is about entertainment and making money. The crowd wants to see sensations, sex, scandals and: the twins. Simon did a very common thing: he followed his interests even if it ment to twist yesterdays comments. So: there should be no surprise. But why is half of Britain upset? Is it, because Simon did do this too plump and obvious? Integrecy and truthfulness is rarely a human asset. Maybe Simon mirrored this to us.
- Posted by ConradI am shocked more than anything that people are surprised by what happened.I have never liked the programme or any of a similar type as they appear to me to be a cynical money making excercise but my wife watches it ever week.I do however sometimes see the final half of the Sunday show and before the end of show roll call started I said the twins will be in the bottom two but Simon Cowell assuming the other judges voted as expected will find a reason for going to the “public” vote and the twins will be saved.
They will then be ditched next week as the final is getting close and there would be even less credibility in the show if a circus act got through to the final.
Shock horror so far I have been proved right.It was a pathetic attempt to prove that (a) the judges do alledgedly take into account the perforamnce on the night and (b) the public’s vote also actually matters and affects the final outcome.One of the other posters has suggested some form of repeat voting to scupper Mr. Cowell’s plans but is it beyond the realms of belief that this does not already happen already to ensure who areeach week’s losers.
In my opinion the show is a publicity stunt from start to finish and several people have got very rich on the back of it.
- Posted by JohnIn the end of the day, cowell is showing all of you, that was the public that sent Lucie off not the judges, is telling all of you again, vote for your favourite or they will be off, yet again, and media is so funny, people as well though.
- Posted by jarodsimon should be promoting talent.Get it right all of you he is after your money to put with his .Not interested in talent just your money.He has done this before “i am going with the best performance” lies .Oh we really are such fools to fall for this cowardly greedy man and all involved in this farce.
- Posted by peter thomasNeither - the crap factor.
- Posted by Graham SeedI really like the X factor, fact is iv been tuning in since the first shows and there have been a few bad calls now and then but this is just some thing else.
Lucie obviously has a lot more talent than the twins.
Simon thought that he had to do some thing irrational to increase his ratings but i think this ploy is going to fail him this time.
I wont be watching any longer i just cant stand having them annoying mongerloids on my TV any longer taking the opportunity and dreams of FAR more talented people because they have “comedy value”, its a joke.
Stacy Solomon is a brilliant singer and has more talent in her baby finger then john and Edward have beaten them, and you know that she is not safe, neither are any of the good acts from now on…
you can just tell the twins will go through to the final and it’s not on!!
That’s my 2p worth, just irritating what a TV show is for talent and its obviously not being portrayed in the most fair way to the contestants…
- Posted by NikkyCouldn’t agree more. Slime-on Cowell has just brushed away any remaining credibility the show may have had. There’s always potential for daft public voting (people are more likely to ring in if the act they like is under threat), but it reduces it to farce when the judges opt for tactical moves. The show is supposed to be about talent. Based on Simons vote he’s still not able to recognise it.
To some extent the show does need a cold judge, or at least one who’s honest about bad acts as well as good, but what Simon does, half the country could manage just as well. Simon’s greatness appears to be purely a figment of his own imagination.
The more popular theories are scam related. One focusses on betting scams. Another is based on pushing up ratings and drumming up more public votes (for anyone daft enough to take the bait). The latter isn’t so likely now. After all, who is going to bother voting, when Simon may make more stupid calls, rending their votes pointless?
Like many others, I won’t be watching any more. For me, the show was about talent and recognising that talent. This show in no way represents that any more.
- Posted by simonits obvsisouly a fix hes always saying the twins are terrible and but in his defence he sed he dosent like lucie but he has give lucie a good review when she sang in the rock week but when the hell has he gave the twins its a fix simon only cares on how deep his pockets go….. this yrs x factor is nowhere near as good as last yr or yr before
- Posted by michaelhe is awful. he let everyone down and he lost our respect.cowell the slimey coward
- Posted by mckenzie