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Stars defend victim of bizarre ‘X Factor’ rant

Some of music’s biggest names have banded together in support of a reality show contestant who endured a harsh rant at the hands of two judges on New Zealand’s version of X Factor.

Contestant Joe Irvine was forced to face the brutal critiques of husband and wife duo Natalia Kills and Willy Moon after performing his own version of Justin Timberlake’s song Cry Me a River.

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Kills and Moon, who are both musicians, accused Irvine of copying Moon’s look and being “creepy” on live television.

“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,” Kills said.

“I mean, it’s like Norman Bates dressing up in his mother’s clothing,” Moon added.

“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.”

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The pair were fired 24 hours later, with TV3 CEO Mark Waldon explaining: “We no longer have confidence that Kills and Moon are the right people to perform the role ofThe X Factor judges, and they will leave the show, effective immediately.”

Signers Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding and Lorde have since come out in support of Irvine, encouraging him to continue pursuing his dreams despite the hurtful incident.

In a handwritten note accompanied by cupcakes, New Zealand-born Lorde told Irvine his “individuality, positive energy and spirit are infectious”.

On Twitter, Sheeran told Irvine to not “worry about what anyone else says”.

“Enjoy yourself with it, that’s what singing is about, not what other people think.”

Ellie Goulding slammed Kills and Moon on Twitter, writing: “You sort of have to be, you know, vaguely relevant to have your style stolen just saying”.

She soon deleted the missive before adding that Kills and Moon had likely destroyed their careers “forever”. 

Irvine reached out to his supporters on Twitter, sharing a video to thank them for their “overwhelming” support.

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