In a story that will break your cold, hard, Monday-ready hearts, two judges from X Factor New Zealand have been fired after bullying a contestant.
Seriously.
Married couple Natalia Kills and Willy Moon were let go by MediaWorks for what it described as a "disgusting tirade" that, well, really is.
It started over contestant Joe Irvine's aesthetic. Kills accused him of stealing her husband's look "from the hair to the suit," called him "disgusting" and "creepy" and asked whether he had any "value or respect for originality." The rest of the judges looked uncomfortable, but Moon chimed in by claiming Irvine looked like "Norman Bates dressing up in his mother's clothing" and that Irvine might murder the crowd. (What the?)
The barrage actually goes on for about two minutes, before another judge stepped in. And Irvine also took it all in stride. (Probably because he was so embarrassed for Natalia and Willy, let's be honest. That shit reflected on them, not him.)
Fortunately, the network wasn't having it.
"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," MediaWorks' chief executive, Mark Weldon, said in a statement. "Contestants put their all into this competition and they should expect to receive feedback and criticism that is professional and constructive. We no longer have confidence that Kills and Moon are the right people to perform the role of X Factor judges and they will leave the show, effective immediately."
In the words of Drake himself: HYFR.
Seriously. If we're going to preach tolerance and freedom of expression, then in what world would Moon and Kills' lingering presence on the series be acceptable? Especially considering the attack was so . . . personal. It reaked of insecurity, of being threatened, and 100% reflected on the couple's dangerous Mean Girls-centric thinking. ("Hoop earrings are her thing!") One million applause to X Factor New Zealand for showing them the door. And Irvine, I don't know you dude, but keep on doing you. (Mel from All Saints was right!)
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