The X Factor has been enjoying a well-deserved break from air, but its frostiest moments linger in public consciousness.
The ITV reality series, headed up by Syco honcho Simon Cowell, saw performers duke it out in a number of live shows for the chance to receive a life-changing record deal.
Previous winners include Little Mix and Leona Lewis, while runners-up including One Direction and Stacey Solomon have also soared to fame.
With a multitude of judges and contestants over the years, a number of frosty exchanges have been captured both on the live shows and behind-the-scenes of the bootcamp and audition stages.
Daily Star takes a look inside the show’s frostiest ever moments.
Fag breath
(Image: ITV)
The X Factor judges Gary Barlow and Tulisa Contostavlos exchanged an awkward war of words in 2012.
The showdown followed Gary’s act Christopher Maloney’s performance, which Tulisa critiqued by saying: “Gary, how many of these eighties classics are you going to let him keep destroying?”
In response, Gary savagely quipped: “I don’t know what’s offended me more – what you said or the fag ash breath!”
The confrontation was quickly interrupted by Dermot O’Leary but it was Tulisa who had the last laugh.
In the following episode, the N Dubz star clapped back by wearing a nicotine patch on her arm.
‘Who even are you?’
(Image: ITV)
The likes of Simon Cowell, Cheryl, Danni Minogue and Louis Walsh didn’t realise what they were in for when Ablisa graced the stage in 2010.
The two-person girl group – made up of best pals Abby and Lisa – got into an onstage spat after their audition went wrong, in front of the horrified judges.
Speaking after the iconic audition, Abby previously told local news: “The whole experience was overwhelming and the incident has now put a lot of stress on my family.
“Because of what happened Lisa and I aren’t friends any more and there are groups being set up on Facebook, saying I deserve a slap, which is horrible.”
Misha B vs Tulisa and Little Mix
(Image: Ken McKay/Rex Features)
Tulisa memorably brought backstage drama to the fore in a 2012 live show.
Following media reports that Kelly Rowland’s solo girl artist Misha B had allegedly made members of eventual winners Little Mix cry, Tulisa confronted the contestant live onstage.
Following Misha’s performance, Tulisa said: “You being so feisty can come across quite mean.”
She later accused Misha of making “mean comments” backstage and said she should “put aside the attitude”.
The controversy resurfaced in 2020 when Misha took to Instagram to accuse the show’s producers and Tulisa of perpetuating an “angry black girl” narrative.
(Image: Instagram)
While expressing remorse for how she handled the situation, Tulisa vehemently denied that her comments to Misha at the time amounted to racism in her own Instagram post.
She said: “I didn’t wake up and go, ‘I want to cause some drama for Misha B because of the colour of her skin.
“She did some things that I felt I needed to pull her up on.
“But please believe me when I tell you I do not have a racist bone in my body.”
Zayn storms off
(Image: The X Factor UK/Youtube)
Zayn Malik almost blew his chance of being in One Direction with a now iconic The X Factor bootcamp tantrum.
After snubbing a dancing challenge, the pop hopeful told cameras: “I seriously don’t want to do it.
“I hate dancing and I’ve never done it before.
“I just feel like an idiot. I just know I’m going to do it wrong.”
(Image: The X Factor UK/Youtube)
Zayn’s saving grace turned out to be Simon Cowell, who found the singer backstage and gave him the encouragement he needed to return to the bootcamp stage.
Simon said: “You can’t just bottle it!
“You can’t just hide behind here, you’re ruining this for yourself. I’m trying to help you here.”
The rest, as they say, is a whole lot of history.
Louis gropes Mel B
(Image: mirror.co.uk)
There would be no The X Factor without its sidekick show The Xtra Factor and one memorably frosty moment involving Mel B and Louis Walsh looms larger than others.
The Spice Girl was infamously groped by the music manager live on air during a 2014 episode of the show, causing her to object and challenge Louis.
Mel said: “Hold on. Hold on a second.
“Why are you grabbing my butt? Inappropriate. Inappropriate.”
(Image: mirror.co.uk)
She could then be seen sliding away from Louis on the couch and giving the camera a confused glare.
Speaking about the incident at a later date on Today FM, Louis said: “We’d be sitting there all day on the couch doing TV, and I just grabbed her arse as a joke.
“She was very funny and you could say anything or do anything to her and I loved her, so I would just grab her for a laugh but it’s not PC anymore.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
