The X Factor brought with it some serious talent and some serious controversy, with the show facing a backlash from the public an innumerable amount of times, for a whole range of reasons.
The hugely popular singing contest hit our screens for the first time on September 4, 2004 and became a huge hit.
Stars such as Little Mix, One Direction and Stacey Solomon all got their starts on the show, but many other contestants reached levels of fame for different reasons.
The reality show had its share of scandals over the 17 years that it aired, and despite recently being cancelled many of its biggest controversies will live on.
We took a look at the biggest controversies surrounding the show.
Emily Nakanda
Emily Nakanda appeared on the show in 2007, but she was unceremoniously booted from the competition after mobile phone footage emerged of her attacking another teenage girl.
The video allegedly showed her grabbing the girl in a headlock, swinging her around and then throwing her on the floor.
At the time, an X Factor spokeswoman said: “In response to the stories in the papers this week regarding Emily Nakanda, we have conducted our own investigations into the matter and we can confirm that she has chosen to withdraw herself from the competition with immediate effect.”
Gary Barlow and Tulisa
(Image: ITV)
Spats between judges are a long held tradition of reality TV so it came as no surprise when Gary Barlow and Tulisa came to verbal blows.
While giving feedback to contestant Christopher Maloney, Tulisa asked Gary how many 80s classics he was going to let him destroy on the show.
Gary responded by insulting her, saying: “Tulisa, I don’t know what’s offended me more, what you’ve said or the fag ash breath.”
Tulisa gaped in shock and once she recovered hit back: “Just a note for Gary, lay off the red wine because I can really smell that as well.”
Rage Against the Machine
(Image: Redferns)
The Christmas No. 1 spot had long been dominated by the X Factor for a number of consecutive years.
A group of people online took ire with this and accused The X Factor of churning out manufactured pop stars.
They started an online campaign to get Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name to the top spot in 2009.
The campaign was a resounding success and beat the year’s winner Joe McElderry to No. 1 by 50,000 units.
Frankie Cocozza
(Image: PA)
In one of the most famous bootings from the show, Frankie hit the headlines when there were accusations that he had engaged in cocaine abuse.
At the time, his mentor Gary Barlow said he was “hugely disappointed” at the news, and Frankie’s time on the show came to an end.
But Frankie later claimed that “there was no proof” of the allegations and accused the show of leaking the story after they “promised it wouldn’t be released”.
Cheryl
(Image: Getty Images)
Longtime UK judge Cheryl took a trip over the pond to be a judge on the American version of the show.
However, she ended up being axed by Simon Cowell who Cheryl claimed “didn’t even have the guts to phone or send a message warning.”
Reports suggested that reason was the American audience couldn’t understand her Geordie accent.
In her second autobiography, Cheryl: My Story, the mum-of-one revealed the explicit text she sent to Simon.
She exclaimed: “F*** you. F*** Britain’s Got Talent. F*** the orange and purple outfit. F*** big hair. F*** the UK X Factor. F*** you all.”
But the relationship was soon mended after she returned to The X factor UK despite vowing never to appear on the show again.
Misha B
2011 X Factor contestant Misha B was one of the early favourites to win the show, but ended up coming fourth.
Afterward she accused judge Tulisa of “bullying” and “racism” and said the show had been edited to make her look like a bully.
“They saw an opportunity to tear down a black girl that came from a broken home and worked together to assassinate my character and to sabotage my career by orchestrating lies,” she claimed.
Tulisa later responded by apologising to the former contestant.
Harry Styles and Matt Cardle
Who could forget the moment that Matt Cardle won back in 2010?
The moment will go down in history, not least because Matt accidentally punched mentor Danni Minogue in the face as she went to congratulate him.
As Matt performed his cover of Biffy Clyro’s When We Collide, the other finalists took to the stage to celebrate his win.
Seconds later, a 16-year-old Harry Styles appeared to whisper in the winner’s ear: “Think how much p**** you’re going to get.”
The incident was captured on TV screens and was splashed across the headlines the next day.
Leon Jackson
(Image: PA)
After surprise winner Leon Jackson beat out Rhydian Roberts in the final in 2007, some viewers complained and called it a fix.
Viewers claimed that when they had called in to vote for Rhydian they had been unable to get through as cast their vote.
Over 1,000 people complained to watchdog Ofcom to say that the final result was not accurate.
The show responded by revealing its voting figures to show that Leon had beaten Rhydian by 10%.
Ofcom also investigated the event, but later concluded that even if those who had attempted to vote for Rhydian had gotten through, Leon would have still claimed victory.
Jake Sims – Stereo Kicks
(Image: ITV)
One of the members of eight-piece band Stereo Kicks got himself in hot water back in 2014.
Jake Sims tweeted a naked photo of himself in 2012, despite being under the age of 18, with the caption: “Here’s my nude, lol. Yolo x x ((sorry if you see this mum)).”
He then made headlines again for tweets which bragged about his alleged drug use and was picture lying in a hotel room high on ketamine.
At the time, sources claimed to The Sun that he could barely breathe or talk after taking the Class A drug.
Shianne Phillips
(Image: PA)
Shianne sang Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing in her audition for series 12, which failed to impress the judges.
But the X factor was one again rocked by ‘fix’ claims after Shianne said afterwards her auditions had been “staged”.
”They posted around 30% of my performance, and it was edited to look entirely different from how it really was,” she said at the time.
“I sang two songs and received four standing ovations. I was forced to sing the Whitney song and was told if I sang the song, I would get through. I had actually chosen four other songs instead.”
She also went on to say that the “entire arena of 5,000 people” had been chanting her name after one of her renditions, before branding the show “Fix Factor “.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
