X Factor Rock Week 'Unfair'; Elimination Tonight
Rock Week on “X Factor” has seen performances by the ten remaining contestants, with one claiming she was unfairly judged by Simon Cowell.
Contenders on the show range in age and background – including solo acts as well as groups. The reality singing show pits contestants against each other as viewers vote each week to determine the winner.
Contestants took to the stage Wednesday aligning themselves with the rock theme under the scrutiny of the notoriously harsh judge Cowell.
Stacy Francis, former professional singer, told MTV News she was confused by the judge’s comments following her performance of Meat Loaf’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”
Cowell told the 42-year-old mother from Brooklyn that her performance was “the sort of thing I would expect someone to sing at the Hilton Hotel with people turning their backs, eating peanuts.”
Francis said backstage after the show that she was bewildered.
“I just want a fair judgment, and I don’t feel like it was fair,” said the singer. “I feel like because I’m not in Simon’s category, he beats me up every week.”
“X Factor” allows judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, L.A. Reid, and Cowell – to personally mentor the contestants behind the scenes all the way to the end of the season.
Under Scherzinger’s category, Francis said that contestants under Cowell have a big advantage on the show.
“For him to beat me up like that, I don’t understand,” said Francis. “I sang a Meat Loaf song, which is a rock song, and he said he didn’t love it. Melanie Amaro sang an R.E.M. song and he loved it.”
Cowell serves as mentor to “X Factor” favorite Amaro, who is widely believed to have what it takes to win the competition.
“X Factor” saw a big improvement Wednesday night coveting a 3.8 rating in adults aged 18 to 49, as well as an average of 11.2 million viewers who tuned into the two-hour broadcast.
Contestants Lakoda Rayne, LeRoy Bell, and Chris Rene are in jeopardy of elimination Thursday. “X Factor” airs on FOX at 8 p.m. EST.