Cheryl Cole in X Factor controversy
Ofcom tells Channel 4 News it has received complaints over Cheryl Cole’s refusal to vote off either of her X Factor acts on Sunday. But there is unlikely to be any action taken against the show.
Treyc Cohen was voted off X Factor last night after the most controversial sing-off of the series so far.
Thousands of fans turned to the internet to vent their frustration about the result.
Treyc was in the bottom two alongside Katie Waissel. But both acts were being mentored by Cheryl Cole.
Usually all four judges vote for the act they want to save. If the votes are evenly split then the contest goes to “deadlock” and the act with the fewest public votes leaves the show. Last night when host Dermot O’Leary asked Cheryl Cole to vote she replied: “I don’t have to send anyone home – I won’t”.
Deadlock
Cheryl went on to say that Dermot could come back to her after the other judges had voted so she could take the decision to deadlock.
But Treyc was voted off without Dermot returning to Cheryl.
“I’m a great believer in what will be, will be.” Treyc Cohen
The X Factor reject today backed Cheryl Cole’s controversial stance in failing to cast her vote.
Treyc said she understood the judge’s position and admitted she too would have struggled to choose between two of the acts she had mentored.
In an interview on ITV’s Daybreak she said: “If I was in her position I don’t think I could have chose between two acts that she was mentoring; I don’t think it would have been fair to the other act.”
“Everything happens for a reason. I’m a great believer in what will be, will be, and I really don’t feel like it’s going to be the end for me.”
The move prompted thousands of X Factor fans to complain on social networking sites with #fixfactor trending on Twitter.
Channel 4 News has been on Twitter taking a look at the online reaction to last night's show.
@Likes_a_Rant: Cheryl said to Dermot to come back to her so she could take it to deadlock and he didn't! FIX FIX FIX. #fixfactor
@Sega_Mega_Drive: #xfactor is a complete joke. How come #cherycole can just change the rules by not voting?!
@jcarson67: I wonder if they got word not to go to deadlock as katie would be leaving?!?! Cheryl shud have been made to vote!
@nikkita_JLSx: i dont understand?! treyc got 2 votes, katie got 1! cheryl said go back so she could put it to deadlock?!
@Hollowbabes: @itv2 @TheXFactor why was Cheryl prevented from taking it to deadlock #FIXFACTOR
@iKirstyD: Wow talk about #fixfactor !!!! That should have gone to deadlock!
Complaints
Media watchdog Ofcom told Channel 4 News it has received complaints about the show but on average it receives an average of around 200 complaints after every show. The exact number will be released by Ofcom on Wednesday.
Despite the controversy it is unlikely that X Factor will face any regulatory action as a result of last night’s show.
The terms and conditions state that telephone votes will be used to determine the bottom two in the competition. A Channel 4 News source said that, as that procedure was followed, there would probably be no grounds for action.