Cowell brands number one campaign 'stupid'
'X Factor' judge Simon Cowell today branded a campaign to prevent the show’s winner from having the Christmas number one single as “stupid” and “cynical”.
He also said he felt it was “dismissive” of the show’s viewers and that he felt the campaign was aimed at him.
A group set up on Facebook is calling for people to make rock band Rage Against The Machine’s 1992 single 'Killing in the Name' this year’s number one.
It currently has 548,000 members.
Speaking at a press conference with the competition’s finalists Stacey Solomon, Joe McElderry and Olly Murs, and its judges Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh, Cowell said: “If there’s a campaign, and I think the campaign’s aimed directly at me, it’s stupid. Me having a number one record at Christmas is not going to change my life particularly.
“It does however change these guys’ lives and we put this opportunity there so that the winner of the 'X Factor' gets the chance of having a big hit record.
“I think it’s quite a cynical campaign geared at me which is actually going to spoil the party for these three.
“I also think it’s incredibly dismissive of the people who watch and enjoy the show... to treat our audiences as if they’re stupid and I don’t like that.”
He also confirmed that on this week’s Saturday night final, Stacey would be performing a duet with singer Michael Buble, Olly with chart topper Robbie Williams, and Joe with singer George Michael.
