X Factor Row Hits Parliament!
Laura White - X factor 2008
The row about Laura White being voted off the X Factor escalated last night as the debacle was discusses in the House of Commons.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham slammed the decision to vote favourite Laura off the show. He told MPs that the “wonderful and talented” singer had been treated “harshly” by the judges.
Laura was one of the favourites to win the show but lost out in the sing-off against rival Ruth Lorenzo. The row was exacerbated when it was revealed that Laura, 21, was “head and shoulders” above Ruth, 25, in the public vote.
However, the public vote wasn’t called upon to decide which of the singers left the show as judges Dannii Minogue, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh voted three to one to send Laura home. Only mentor Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole saved her.
The vote to get rid of Laura has enraged TV viewers and has sparked claims that the hit show has lost its credibility. More than five thousand viewers have now signed an online petition calling for Laura to be reinstated or be given a record deal, with some viewers claiming on forums that they weren’t able to get through when they phoned in to vote for Laura.
Cheryl is reportedly still furious with Louis because he had the casting vote and sealed Laura’s fate on the show.
The pair apparently later had a huge backstage bust-up and on the Xtra Factor, Cheryl said, “I actually feel numb. I feel shocked. I think it might have been a bit tactical if I’m totally honest.”
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November 13th, 2008 at 2:18 am
I really thought that Laura and Austin should have been in the top 3! I am really missing Austin, his cuteness, his adorable charm and his phenomenal talent. What is going on this year, it has never been like this! Next thing Alexandra will be voted out and then the show will officially be a joke. I am sorry but I really dont think Diana is talented at all. Her voice is weak and limited, her hands in the face all the time is so annoying, and her bushy hair and blotchy skin wrecks my head! What is special about this girl? The only reason she is “unique” as they say is coz, unlike most of the others, i.e. Austin and Laura, Diana is out of her league in this show. And just coz she managed to reach some of the higher notes during disco week doesnt mean that performance was good, because her voice still doesn’t compare to the other contestants that have been voted out in the past 2 weeks. The judges are lowering the bar for her, for some reason. FOR GODS SAKE, she sat down for the entire thing Blondie performance, and it was a DANCE song. AUSTIN HAD THE FULL PACKAGE. Why is there so much media coverage of the Laura White petition, but none of the Austin Drage petition. His was there first!
His now has nearly 15,000 signatures, so lets keep signing his everyone!