Husband-and-wife judging duo Natalia Kills and Willy Moon have been fired from The X Factor NZ, following a scathing attack on a contestant during last night's live show.
In a statement this afternoon, MediaWorks chief executive Mark Weldon said last night both Kills and Moon made comments that were completely unacceptable and the network have removed them from the show.
"While the judges on X Factor are expected to provide critiques of performances, we will not tolerate such destructive tirades from any of the judges," he said.
"We no longer have confidence that Kills and Moon are the right people to perform the role of The X Factor judges, and they will leave the show, effective immediately."
Kills, real name Natalia Noemi Cappuccini-Sinclair, and Moon avoided critiquing Joe Irvine's performance entirely, instead accusing him of ripping off his slick new look from Moon.
"As an artist who respects creative integrity and intellectual property, I am disgusted at how much you've copied my husband," Kills began. "From the hair to the suit, do you not have any value or respect for originality?
"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 even having to dignify you with an answer of my opinion."
Her husband continued the attack, saying it was "cheap and absurd".
"It's like [Psycho character] Norman Bates dressing up in his mother's clothing. It's just a little bit creepy, and I feel like you're going to stitch someone's skin to your face and then kill everybody in the audience," said Moon.
"It's disgusting," added Kills. "You make me sick. It's absolutely disgusting. You have no identity, I can't stand it. I'm ashamed to be here."
An online petition calling for Kills to be fired drew over 70,000 supporters in less than 24 hours.
FremantleMedia Australia, which owns the rights to the X Factor brand in Australasia, said it was supportive of the decision to sack Kills and Moon.
"We are appalled at the very poor judgement and intention shown by Natalia Kills and Willy Moon. We 100% support TV3 and MediaWorks in their decision to remove them. The X Factor does not tolerate the behaviour they displayed last night," said FreemantleMedia's director of programming Jonathon Symmerhayes.
The X Factor NZ Executive Producer, Andrew Szusterman, said TV3 had acted decisively and in the best interests of the contestants.
"We now need to move on, and give the contestants, and the public the competition that they deserve," he said.
Earlier this morning fellow judges Melanie Blatt and Stan Walker slammed their colleague, with Blatt labelling Kills a "twat", while Walker saying she was a bully whose actions were "disgusting".
Tonight's show will be judged by Walker and Blatt, with two new judges to be announced before next week's show.
DECISION LAUDED
The Human Rights Commission welcomed the decision to sack Natalia Kills and Willy Moon as judges on The X Factor NZ and stand up to bullying.
Human Rights Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy said "bullying isn't acceptable" whether at work, at school or on stage at an X Factor talent show.
"I'm glad to see MediaWorks decided to not be a bystander and to publicly condemn bullying abuse.
"Many people across the country spoke out to support the young man who was publicly ridiculed on the show last night.
"I'd like to congratulate the thousands of everyday New Zealanders who took to social media to condemn this bullying behaviour, to stand up for someone else who was being bullied.
"Don't be a bystander, stand up to bullies," she said.
Conservative lobby group Family First said it applauded X Factor producers for firing Kills and Moon.
Family First director Bob McCoskie said the former judges' outburst was "playground bullying of the worst kind".
"X Factor is supposed to be a celebration and showcasing of Kiwi talent – not a demonstration of public bullying and humiliation. Constructive feedback is one thing. Moon and Kills' tirade was anything but constructive."
The show had set an "atrocious public example" at a time when schools and communities were working to prevent bullying and verbal abuse, McCoskie said.
Families should be able to enjoy the show with their children without fear of "objectionable content", he said.
Source: Press Release - MediaWorks, 3 News and Stuff.co.nz
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