I’ve always been interested in reality TV, and have checked out nearly every version of the X Factor across the globe. Having watched parts of last year’s X Factor in New Zealand I was excited to hear there was going to be a shake-up on the judging panel… because everybody knows that the best part about talent shows aren’t the contestants – it’s the judges!

Melanie Blatt from the band All Saints and solo artist Stan Walker were, this season, joined by husband and wife duo Natalia Kills and Willy Moon. Since the start of the season, the pair have been controversial and have pushed the envelope when it comes to judging the contestants on the show.

I was shocked when I watched a clip early Monday morning of Kills and Moon horrifically humiliating and dehumanising a contestant from the over 25’s category, Joe Irvine. Irvine’s backstory was that for his whole life he’s been an outsider, struggled to fit in and was constantly bullied. The X Factor styling team had taken him out of his day-to-day clothes and dressed him up in a suit paired with slicked back hair.

After his performance, he received praise from Blatt and Walker, then things had turned around as it came time for Kills and Moon to critique Irvine’s performance. Kills proceeded to call Irvine a “disgrace”, a “laughing stock” and “imposter”. She claimed his new look was ripping off her husband and felt as though she was ashamed and felt embarrassed to have to dignify him with a response. Moon then made a comparison between Irvine and infamous murderer Norman Bates. It was a horrifying and plain shocking clip to watch as someone as innocent as Irvine is, get bullied on national live TV. Since the incident, the couple have been fired from the show with their replacements to step in soon, and Irvine is doing well having received praise and sincere well-wishes from international fans and celebrities including Lorde, Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding.

This was such an important visual to comment on as it is something so prominent and a relevant trending topic in the world of popular culture and media currently. We have discussed this in class and I found it interesting to hear other peers’ thoughts on the matter.