"X Factor New Zealand' Season 2's live television series premiere broadcast began like any other night, until a bizarre twist of events. Two judges, Natalia Kills and Willy Moon were eliminated from the show after launching a series of hateful feedback towards hopeful contestant Joe Irvine. 'X Factor' is a reality talent show competition created by former "American Idol' judge Simon Cowell.
Season 2 premiered on March 14 with much anticipation and excitement for the launching of a new season. Irvine sang "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake, dressed in a suit and tie with his blonde hair slicked back. Singers Kills and her husband Moon misused their gifted voices to antagonize Irvine's performance and physical appearance.
"It was hateful. She sounded mad. It didn't even make sense," said Cowell on Kills' statements.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm just going to state the obvious, we have a doppelgänger in our midst. As an artist who respects creative integrity and intellectual property, I am disgusted at how much you've copied my husband," said Kills on live tv. "From the hair to the suit, do you not have any value for respect for originality? You're a laughing stock. It's cheesy, it's disgusting, I personally found it artistically atrocious."
Moon, soon followed with his own statements comparing Irvine to a psychotic killer, Norman Bates.
"To me it feels just a little bit cheap and absurd. It's like Norman Bates dressing up in his mother's clothing. It feels a little creepy and I feel like you are going to stitch someone's skin to your face and then kill everybody in the audience... but you do you," said Moon.
Following this event, sponsors backed out of further endorsing the show. In fact, there will not be a Season 3 for "X Factor NZ.' Winners of the show receive a recording contract with a music label. The show has moved many famous music artists to the spotlight, such as the award-winning British boy band One Direction. The show's host is Dominic Bowden. The judges are Melanie Blatt, Stan Walker, Daniel Bedingfield, Ruby Frost, Natalia Kills, Willy Moon, Natalie Bassingthwaite, and Shelton Woolright. Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Shelton Woolright replaced the couple on the show.
Celebrity Tweets:
Joe Irvine
"m.facebook.com/JoeIrvineMusic"¦? I'm going to write heaps of songs and do somthing about bullying it's time to love," tweeted Irvine on Wednesday, April 15.?
"I survived the Kills! ?#xfactornz ?pic.twitter.com/4wxnvjhqGw," tweeted Irvine on March 15. "In the words of Lili last night why you gotta be so rude don't you know I'm human too ?pic.twitter.com/a5e9iat6qW."
Ellie Goulding
"Can't stop myself from commenting on NZ X factor situation because I can't stop thinking about how mean it was. Thank goodness they're gone," tweeted Goulding on March 16. The statement was retweeted 6,261 times and received 10,100 favorites.
Natalia Kills
"@billboard Once again @jooe63_joe I apologize for the madness + I wish you success + happiness in the competition!" tweeted Kills on March 19.
Moon
"Just want to send a warm message of love to everyone who knows I'm a massive weirdo who makes mistakes but knows there's a bigger picture," tweeted Moon on March 24.
