Natalia Kills & Willy Moon Face Online Backlash, Sacked From X-Factor After Insulting Contestant

After facing online backlash for their harsh juding style, singer Natalia Kills and her husband Willy Moon have been sacked by the producers the New Zealand version of the X-Factor singing contest. The couple got into trouble after they lashed out at 25-year-old contestant Joe Irvine on Sunday’s live show.

Natalia Kills, who is originally from Britain, also accused the singing hopeful, who was wearing a suit and tie, of stealing her husband’s look. Her husband then compared the contestant to “Norman Bates dressing up in his mother’s clothing” before suggesting he might kill some in the audience. See video below...

Natalia later came online on Twitter to say the show was one of her most enjoyable.

Had the most fun at the live shows tonight! So many new followers! Love you all 💗 time to celebrate! 🍸 https://t.co/kzwPNVjhxd
— NATALIA KILLS (@NataliaKills) March 15, 2015

I love you guys, thanks for your support & understanding my passionate opinions! You know what they say about me... https://t.co/DNBksvmYWM
— NATALIA KILLS (@NataliaKills) March 15, 2015

Though few in the live audience seemed to agree with the couple, majority booed their opinions and cheered on the contestant. A Change.org petition started immediately after the show called for Natalia Kills and Willy Moon to be fired, and garnered almost 100,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

The furore from the show also followed the duo online as fans and followers began to leave comments on their social media pages calling them out for the bullying.

HuffPo UK now reports that MediaWorks’ chief executive, Mark Weldon, has released a statement where he said the judge's comments were “completely unacceptable” and would not be tolerated. He also fires them with immediate effect.

“While the judges on X Factor are expected to provide critiques of the performances, we will not tolerate such destructive tirades from any of the judges.

“Contestants put their all into this competition and they should expect to receive feedback and criticism that is professional and constructive.

"We no longer have confidence that Kills and Moon are the right people to perform the role of X Factor judges and they will leave the show, effective immediately.”