Sacked “bullying” X Factor NZ judges roundly condemned

The two X-Factor NZ judges sacked yesterday for “bullying” comments have been roundly condemned as the news spread through the world. Over 50,000 comments were made on social media on the incident.

TV3 quickly dumped husband and wife team, English singer Natalia Kills and NZ-born singer and producer Willy Moon. On Sunday night’s show they made puerile and cruel comments about contestant Joe Irvine’s similar look to Moon “from the hair to the suit”.

Kills shrieked, “Have you no value or respect for originality”. She went on, “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 having to even dignify you with an answer of my opinion… You make me sick."

Moon then labelled a stunned Irvine’s performance “cheap and absurd”. He continued, "It's like (Psycho character) Norman Bates dressing up in his mother's clothing. It's just a little bit creepy. I feel like you're going to stitch someone's skin to your face and then kill everyone in the audience."

TV3 described the incident as "bullying" on its Facebook page.

"Following tonight’s episode ofThe X Factor NZwe received a huge amount of feedback about comments made by our judges," it posted. "The nature of live television can be unpredictable and we appreciate you taking the time to voice your opinion. TV3 does not condone bullying and are currently on-site with Joe who is doing well."

"We have decided Natalia Kills and Willy Moon are no longer suitable to judgeThe X Factor NZand have been removed from the show," itwrote last night.

The other two judges Stan Walker and Melanie Blatt both expressed anger by the comments. “Justice is done,” Walker tweeted. Blatt called Kills “a twat.”

Sponsors demanded their scalps.McDonalds deemed the comments “wholly unacceptable.” 2Dregres said, “Their behavior was out of line with our company values and we are pleased they've (TV3) made this decision.”

The broadcast funding agency New Zealand On Air, which gave X Factor NZ $800,000 towards production costs this year, urged viewers to lodge a complaint. "We have advised TV3 we are disappointed that the focus has been taken off the music. We do not condone bullying."

Judi Clements, CEO of Mental Health Foundation, said the Kills and Moon comments "encouraged bullying, demeaning behaviour.

We all have the responsibility to treat people with dignity and respect and not be cruel and hurtful.”

Human Rights Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy congratulated the thousands of New Zealanders who expressed their disgust on social media, “To condemn this bullying behaviour, to stand up for someone else who was being bullied.”

TV3 parent company Mediaworks’ CEO Mark Weldon called the pair’s comments “completely unacceptable. While the judges on X Factor are expected to provide critiques of the performances, we will not tolerate such destructive tirades from any of the judges.”

As reported in TMN last week, X Factor NZ already created controversy when it brought on convicted killer Shae Brider and allowed him to talk about his killing, with two others, of a 16-year-old boy. The show has also faced waning viewer interest: last night’s episode only drew 256,000 down from 300,000 at the beginning of the season.