Frankie Cocozza Leaves X Factor After Bragging About 'Cocaine Use'
A contestant on Fox’s hit show the “X Factor” has been booted off amid reports that he boasted about using cocaine during the show.
Show producers overheard Frankie Cocozza allegedly bragging about snorting cocaine during an all-night party after last Saturday’s show. They were obligated to take the news to the shows higher-ups.
“X Factor” directors will make an announcement today about how the sudden departure of Frankie will affect the upcoming show on Saturday.
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The show’s creator Simon Cowell told the Sun that ''Frankie's blown a wonderful opportunity. It's very sad, but he has no one to blame but himself.''
A spokesman for the “X Factor” said that Frankie was leaving after “after breaking competition rules.”
His father Frank, said he was ''absolutely heartbroken'' for his son. Adding, “neither of us saw this coming. I only spoke to him last night on the phone and he said he was going to really knuckle down.''
Cocozza said in a statement, ''I'd like to apologize to Gary, my fellow contestants and everyone who has voted for me, but, as of today, I will no longer be in The X Factor.”
He added, “My life during the show has gone out of control and my behavior off stage has overstepped the rules of the competition. I no longer deserve my place in the show, so I am therefore leaving. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me.''
Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has already began an investigation into possible breaches of its program code surrounding the actions that prompted the dismissal of one of the shows rising stars.
Ofcom is looking into whether he broke the rules regarding swearing after he was seen shouting the phrase, ''f****** have it – get in there,'' when he learned he was through to the next round during the episode that aired Oct. 23.
The regulator is also looking into whether footage of him during a night out with friends broke the code's rules on glamorizing alcohol use.
