This man, Joe Irvine, stepped onto the stage and sang “Cry Me A River”.
He sang well enough, nothing seemed to be wrong.
But when he was done, two of the judges ploughed into him, they completely laid into him. I mean they trashed him so bad they made Simon Cowell look like a sweetheart.
But why did they do that?It wasn’t because of what he sang, or even how he sang. In fact it had nothing to do with his singing.It was because of how he looked.
The two judges were Willy Moon and Natalia Kills, a married couple. Both of them are also singers.
On that particular episode, the contestant Joe Irvine looked very much like Willy Moon.
Willy Moon, left. Joe Irvine, right.
The couple claimed Joe Irvine changed his look so he could look like Willy Moon.
Natalia Kills: As an artist who respects artists’ integrity and intellectual property, I am disgusted at how much you have copied my husband.
FROM the hair, to the suit, do you not have any value or respect for originality?
YOU’RE a laughing stock. It’s cheesy, it’s disgusting. I personally found it absolutely artistically atrocious.
I am embarrassed to be sitting here in your presence, even having to dignify you with an answer of my opinion.
Willy Moon joined in the tirade, saying it felt cheap and absurd, and ‘like Norman Bates dressing up in his mother’s clothing’.
(Norman Bates is the killer in the horror film Psycho).
All these comments were rude and completely unnecessary, and look at the poor guy’s face, he looked like he was about to cry.
He didn’t say much back to them. He only said that he liked the way he looked.
The two judges’ tirade sparked an outrage on social media, causing both of them to be simultaneously fired from the show.
They received so much hate that they fled the country to Los Angeles.
The couple at the airport, accompanied by security, still trying to look fashionable as they flee the country. God, they look creepy.
Joe Irvine received a lot of support on social media from the public and also from celebrities, such as Ed Sheeran.
New Zealand chart-topper Lorde sent him a letter and some cupcakes.
Lorde’s letter read:
I’m a performer too, and I wanted to say that no matter how many people make fun of me for how I dress, move and act, I’m being me – and that’s what’s important. Good luck and lots of love, Lorde.
People were understandably upset with those two judges. Those two judges said a lot of mean things to Joe Irvine, and even compared him to a (fictional) murderer.
On social media, people ridiculed those judges, and some people harassed them to the point where they felt they had to leave the country for the sake of their own safety.
No matter how much someone tries to copy your looks or style or whatever, you just can’t tell them they look like a psycho killer in front of thousands of viewers.
What I found hilarious were the memes made about the female judge, Natalia Kills.
She trashed Joe Irvine for copying her husband’s style, so people trashed her for copying the styles of other…..famous individuals.
Tweet reads: Madonna just called, she wants her look back.
It’s kinda hilarious and she kinda deserves it.
