‘X-Factor’ Judges Fired for Bullying

Two judges have been fired from X Factor New Zealand for going overboard during their critiques of a contestant’s performance. British singer Natalia Kills accused 25-year-old contestant Josh Irvine of copying her husband and co-judge Willy Moon’s look. “As an artist who respects creative integrity and intellectual property, I am disgusted at how much you have copied my husband,” Kills said. “Do you not have any value or respect for originality? You’re a laughing stock. It’s cheesy. It’s disgusting. I personally found it absolutely artistically atrocious. I am embarrassed to be sitting here in your presence.” Her husband called it “cheap and absurd.” Mediaworks released a statement deciding that “Natalia Kills and Willie Moon are no longer suitable to judge The X Factor and we have removed them from the show.” CEO Mark Whedon deemed their remarks “unacceptable” and that they would not “tolerate such destructive tirades from any of the judges.”