The two judges, Willy Moon and Natalia Kills, were fired from the New Zealand version of X Factor after harshly criticizing contestant Joe Irvine’s performance of “Cry Me a River,” which occurred on March 14, according to Billboard. After Irvine was wearing a suit-and-tie and gelled back hair, similarly to Moon’s style, Kills criticized Irvine of copying her husband’s [Moon] artistry and dismissing Irvine as an unoriginal artist, which she did not approve of.
“You’re a laughing stock,” Kills said. “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.”
“It’s like Norman Bates dressing up in his mother’s clothing,” Moon stated. “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 everyone in the audience.”
Billboard spoke with Kills following the controversy, speaking about the aftermath and her dismissal from the television program.
“Obviously sometimes TV producers plan drama for ratings and it totally back fire on them,” Kills said in the online exchange. “But if that was another stunt then it was badly…” she trailed off.
“When you’re under contract there’s no room for error, so I wish I could have spoken up and addressed Joe sooner,” Kills continued. “It’s awful he got dragged…Into this but I wish him all the best on reality TV and with his music.”
