Mystery surrounds decision to freeze popular finalists out of X Factor TV broadcasts
The production firm behind X Factor, Fremantle Media Australia, has defended the decision not to broadcast any performances of a mother and daughter act despite the duo receiving standing ovations from the audience and reaching the final stages of the reality singing show.
The TV snub handed to Bianca and Johanna Vitalone sparked several complaints from fans on social media, TV Tonight reported, with many furious viewers turning to Facebook to express their feelings.
Some posts questioned the treatment of contestants on the reality show after the duo were denied their moment of TV fame.
The couple made it through to the Boot Camp stage of the show having got the nod from three judges and a rapturous reception from the audience.
But they were eliminated in the Five Seat challenge – the stage before the live performances where each judge chooses their five finalists – after being overlooked by Guy Sebastian.
Despite their popularity and making it through the nerve-wracking audition phase, they were mysteriously frozen out and did not appear in any of the TV broadcasts.
Viewers jumped on the Facebook pages of both the X Factor and Bianca and Johanna to voice their displeasure.
One wrote: “Surely airing ALL the contestants would be a fairer way to run the show rather than to just concentrate on ones who might be ratings grabbers! The mind boggles.”
Maria Hemara Yodelmaria told X Factor: “I won’t be watching again….not very nice what this show is doing to the young people.”
Others expressed a mixture of sympathy and anger on Bianca and Johanna’s Facebook page.
On the Facebook thread, the mum and daughter combo admitted they were heartbroken at missing out and “confused” at not being on TV.
“We were the only ones they skipped,” they wrote. “We had an amazing reaction from the audience. I am still confused as to why they didn’t show us.”
Comment has been sought from Channel Seven.
A spokesman for Fremantle Media Australia said the duo were one of more than 40 contestants who remained in the show at the Boot Camp stage and not all could have TV air time.
He said it is made clear to all performers that they are not guaranteed to appear on the Seven broadcasts.
Steve Jones
I’m not sure what the mystery is here, they don’t have enough airtime to show everyone so they cut the dullest. It’s the same every year.
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Standing ovations are hardly a benchmark for quality on the X-Factor.
Everybody gets a standing ovation.
Seriously…Everybody.
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I’ll admit i’ve not watched XFactor ever but, Reality show contestants who didn’t make the finals cut not shown on air —- how is this news?
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This has happened before. Peta Evans-Taylor was cut from the 2011 series after the Boot Camp stage despite receiving audience praise.
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