Disgraced New Zealand X-Factor judges Natalia Kills and Willie Moon have done a midnight runner to Los Angeles, after several high profile artists weighed in to the fracas and the world turned against them for mauling contestant Joe Irvine.
Dressed in black and wearing their sunglasses at night the duo seemed to have learnt the art of remaining silent, refusing to answer any reporters’ questions.
Despite the backlash and being dropped from her record label, Kills has been steadfast in her refusal to apologise.
Artists with truckloads more success, street cred and tact, leapt to the defence of the baffled contestant, urging him to reject the venom dressed up as constructive criticism and persevere with his dream.
New Zealand’s own, Lorde, adding adept baker and all round lovely human to her repertoire, sent Irvine cupcakes and a hand written inspirational note. The cupcakes spelt out “Keep being Joe”.
“Hi Joe, Just wanted to say: Your individuality, positive energy, and spirit are infectious,” the 18 year old Grammy winner wrote. “I think you’re doing an awesome job on the show so far. Good luck and lots of love, Lorde.”
Recent BRITS Best solo artist winner Ed Sheeran, also chimed in tweeting,
@jooe63_joe don’t worry about what anyone else says man. Enjoy yourself with it, that’s what singing is about, not what other people think
— Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) March 16, 2015
British star Ellie Goulding said she couldn’t resist putting in her two cents, but later retracted her tweet saying she didn’t like to throw shade. The deleted tweet read,
Irvine hasn’t had the easiest life, a fact that has only added to the universal wave of empathy that has engulfed him. He now has more Twitter followers Wille Moon, while the ex-judges’ futures are considered precarious.
Natalia Kills started off the tirade, calling Irvine ‘artistically atrocious’ and a ‘laughing stock’, while her husband Moon compared Irvine to Norman Bates describing him as creepy, as if he were ‘going to stitch someone’s skin to your face and then kill everybody in the audience.
Does the support for Irvine suggest we are becoming more empathetic as a society? Do you think this underdog should win?
