March 16, 2015
2 Judges on New Zealand's 'X Factor' Removed for 'Bullying'
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Husband and wife "X Factor" judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon have been removed from the New Zealand version of the show after their comments on a contestant were seen as bullying.
Kills said she was "disgusted" at how much singer Joe Irvine had copied her husband in his live performance on the show. She called him a "laughing stock" and said she was embarrassed to sit in his presence.
Moon added that it felt cheap and absurd and "like Norman Bates dressing up in his mother's clothing."
Mediaworks, which owns broadcaster TV3, posted news of the firings on its website Monday, describing the comments as "completely unacceptable."
TV3 tweeted a statement saying: "TV3 does not condone bullying and are currently on-site with Joe who is doing well."
