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Will.I.Am Blasted For Absence From 'The Voice'

WENN  |  Posted: 3/05/2012 10:52 Updated: 3/05/2012 11:04   WENN

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Will.i.am has been surrounded by controversy since joining The Voice and is facing criticism once again - he's been slammed for spending too little time with his contestants.

The Black Eyed Peas rapper was given a scolding by bosses and accused of being rude when he tweeted from his mobile phone during Saturday's live show.

And now the star has been blasted for failing to give enough time to the acts he's mentoring on the BBC programme.

An insider told The Mirror: "Some of Will's acts were furious that they hadn't been given more contact with their coach. He isn't interested in tutoring the singers on their performances. He just wants to have a chat and be done with it. His acts have to contact him by Twitter if they need help, but there's no telling where he might be."

Will is reportedly being paid £600,000 to appear on the show and train his chosen acts.

His singers are said to be dissatisfied with his efforts in comparison to fellow coach Tom Jones, who rehearses with his team members five times a week.

However, the hip-hop star is adamant that keeping his distance is not damaging to Team Will.

He explained: "I've just got a different approach... My coaching is, 'Hey, let's talk.'"

When asked if he thought his competitors were at a disadvantage because of his absence, he said: "I'm not worried. I don't get nervous about not being here. It all depends on how you coach. If you focus on trying to unlock the magic within you, there's no coach and no rehearsal which can bring that."

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  • Team Danny - Aleks Josh

    The 17 year old heartthrob works as a part-time lifeguard. Blind Audition: Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

  • Team Danny - Vince

    This bare-footed babe auditioned without his shoes on. Blind Audition: King's of Leon - Sex On Fire

  • Team Danny - Max Milner

    Max's mother is the leading lady in a West End production and he once played the lead in Footloose. Audition: Mash up of Eminem - Lose Yourself and The Beatles - Come Together

  • Team Danny - Bill

    Ed Sheeran has already shown support for the 24 year old, describing a cover he sang as 'sick'. Blind Audition: Plan B - She Said

  • Team Danny - David Julien

    His biggest fan is his dear old dad who never misses a gig. Blind Audition: The Script - Man That Can't Be Moved

  • Team Danny - John James Newman

    This 33 year old has already had a taste for fame: his father is a rock star, his brother is in Waterloo Road and his band have supported Bon Jovi. Blind Audition: Eliza Doolittle - Pack Up

  • Team Danny - Emmy J Mac

    This cutie owns a company that organises music events for children. Blind Audition: Corrine Baile

  • Team Danny - Murray Hockridge

    At 47 years old, Murray has been working in the business for 30 years. Well, as the old saying goes - if at first you don't succeed... Blind Audition: James Morrison - You Give Me Something

  • Team Danny - Hannah Berney

    Hannah was so star struck in her audition that she couldn't remember her mother's name. Blind Audition: Lady Gaga - You and I

  • Team Danny - Bo Bruce

    This lovely Lady dropped her title in favour of...err...Bo. Blind Audition: Usher/ David Guetta - Without You

  • Team Jessie - Ben Kelly

    With over a million views on YouTube and this bow-tied laddie made all four judges turn their chairs

  • Team Jessie - Ruth-Ann St. Luce

    Wobbly audition or not, Jessie still turned her chair and that's what matters. Blind Audition: Leona Lewis - Run

  • Team Jessie - Cassius Henry

    Despite having a record deal with Sony at just 16 years old, the tragic loss of his brother meant Cassius' dreams never materialised. Now, he's back and ready to start again. Blind Audition: Neyo - Closer

  • Team Jessie - David Faulkner

    The shy Welsh builder surprised us all with his sassy rendition of a Motown classic. Blind Audition: Stevie Wonder - Superstitious

  • Team Jessie - Kirsten Joy

    A backing singer who's sung with the best of them, Kirsten fancies some limelight of her own. Blind Audition: Emile Sande - Heaven

  • Team Jessie - Indie and Pixie

    This Guilford twosome do everything together, including sing and wow Jessie J. Blind Audition: P!nk - Perfect

  • Team Jessie - Vince Kidd

    This contestant claims he is constantly judged on his appearance, after such a swagtastic audition we bet his voice will be taking centre stage from now on. Blind Audition: Madonna - Like A Virgin

  • Team Jessie - Jessica Hammond Boldly singing one of the coaches' own songs clearly paid off for Jessica as she got all four to turn in their chairs

  • Team Jessie - Becky Hill

    The 17 year old's audition moved Will.I.Am to tears. Blind Audition: John Legend - Ordinary People

  • Team Jessie - Toni Warne

    After contracting alopecia, Toni's confidence ebbed away together with her dreams of pursuing a career in music. Lucky for us she's got her confidence back. Blind Audition: Will Young - Leave Right Now

  • Team Tom - Audrey

    This bright haired lady has a fear of auditions but has sung as a backing singer for R. Kelly and P.Diddy. Blind Audition: Gnarles Barkley - Crazy

  • Team Tom - Sam Buttery

    One word: quiff. Blind Audition: Adele - Set Fire To The Rains

  • Team Tom - Barbara Bryceland

    This 47 year old grandma from Falkirk has got a pretty big voice. Blind Audition: Rolling Stones - Wild Horses

  • Team Tom - Adam Isaac

    This young man started a major name dropping battle between will.i.am and Tom Jones. Blind Audition: Stereophonics - Maybe Tomorrow

  • Team Tom - Leanne Mitchell

    A singer at a holiday park, Leanne hopes to bring her talent to a wider audience. Blind Audition: Beyonce - If I Were A Boy

  • Team Tom - Denise Morgan

    The 31 year old from Manchester finds any opportunity to sing, she has even lent her voice to a drum & bass album in Japan. Blind Audition: Sara Bareilles - Love Song

  • Team Tom - Matt and Sueleen

    This couple famously flipped a coin to decide which judge to take. Blind Audition: The Beautiful South - A Little Time

  • Team Tom - Lindsey Butler

    Lindsey's mum egged her on to audition, and oh so very grateful we are. Her distinct country twang made Tom's head (and chair) turn. Blind Audition: Rod Stewart - I Don't Want To Talk About It

  • Team Tom - Ruth Brown

    This 20 year old has always had music in her life and has even sung for the Prime Minister. Blind Audition: Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over

  • Team Tom - Deniece Pearson

    You might recognise this woman from '80s band Five Star. Then again, you might not. Anyway she misses the fame game and wants in again. Blind Audition: Christina Aguilera - Fighter

  • Team Will - Heshima Thompson

    This singer, dancer, actor sang backing vocals for Amy Winehouse and made all four coaches turn. Blind Audition: Taio Cruz - Dynamite

  • Team Will - Tyler James

    Like another contestant on Will.I.Am's team, Tyler also has links with Amy Winehouse. Blind Audition: Otis Redding - Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay

  • Team Will - Jenny Jones

    Jenny Jones, who we might start calling Jenny J, began singing at church before hitting the pub circuit. Blind Audition: Duffy - Mercy

  • Team Will - Joelle Moses

    Joelle has already recorde backing vocals for the likes of Rihanna and Toni Braxton. Blind Audition: Adele - Rolling In The Deep

  • Team Will - J Marie Cooper

    After singing one of Jessie's own songs, the pink haired singer made all four judges turned their chairs. Blind Audition: Jessie J - Mamma Knows Best

  • Team Will - Sophia Griffin

    Sophie loves Danny O'Donoghue and has queued for eight hours to see him (twice). Shame he didn't turn around... Blind Audition: Estelle - American Boy

  • Team Will - Frances Wood

    This tender 18 year old boldly sang a Black Eyed Peas' hit to catch the coaches' attention. It worked: Will.I.Am turn his chair. Blind Audition: Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love?

  • Team Will - Jay Norton

    Jay landed himself a record deal 3 years ago, but unfortunately things didn't work out. Blind Audition: Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar

  • Team Will - Jaz Ellington

    Everyone remembers this guy's audition, not only was Jaz the only person to sing two songs, but his rendition of Ordinary People made the coaches cry. Blind Audition: Ed Sheeran - A Team

  • Team Will - Kate Read

    The bespectacled lass' audition song choice was inspired by her mother. Blind Audition: Cyndi Lauper - True Colours

Also on HuffPost:

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Will.i.am has been surrounded by controversy since joining The Voice and is facing criticism once again - he's been slammed for spending too little time with his contestants. The Black Eyed Pea...
Will.i.am has been surrounded by controversy since joining The Voice and is facing criticism once again - he's been slammed for spending too little time with his contestants. The Black Eyed Pea...
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Cynthia Foxxe
42 Fans
21:45 on 04/05/2012
MAKE HIM GO AWAY
NASTY....
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junenorris
101 Fans
17:42 on 04/05/2012
I will try again I love THE VOICE. That includes Will.I.Am love them all. so much better than BGT.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
purple1236
27 Fans
10:00 on 04/05/2012
I know Will is a very clever man , and has his fingers in all kinds of things , and helps kids from his home town to stay ot of trouble .But he was going to put Jez through no matter what , but on the night of the sing offs he wasnt good , and the other person was fantastic .He went down in my books after that , as it was about the singing on the night .
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
purple1236
27 Fans
09:56 on 04/05/2012
We pay him out the licence , can we sack him please .
Permalink  |
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
songster
75 %plus 10
112 Fans
00:28 on 04/05/2012
and the idiot things its good to have his catch phrase of saying DOPE what a fool when the kids think its cool to say it..so sad
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acrylic99
23 Fans
00:36 on 04/05/2012
That's a relief, I thought he had Tourette syndrome.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PhilEssex
Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarves are not happy.
70 Fans
 
21:12 on 03/05/2012
He shouldn't be paid the full amount of £600,000 as he's not doing what he's being paid to do, unlike the others.
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This comment has been removed.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Edogg62
231 Fans
19:57 on 03/05/2012
HE'S NOT A "SINGER!"
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acrylic99
23 Fans
18:52 on 03/05/2012
Will.I.Am.Not.There.
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lokiesteve
72 Fans
16:52 on 03/05/2012
I think the guy has too many irons in the fire or he just can't be bothered.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
sjjb
10 Fans
15:41 on 03/05/2012
i watch the programme but too be honest i had no clue who he was and hadn't heard of the other young ones just tom jones i wonder will we remember the others in 50 years or more as we will with tom jones??
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DaisyMay123
65 Fans
09:43 on 04/05/2012
Love Tom Jones and he is treating his contestants like he should and what he's getting paid for.
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Common Sense approach
18 Fans
15:30 on 03/05/2012
time to do away with the TV licence as I seldom watch the BBC and they do not offer value for money.
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Common Sense approach
18 Fans
15:28 on 03/05/2012
Nice one Will I am! Pass go collect £600,000! Make hay when the sun shines, COOL.

So what can the BBC do about it? Probably not alot. Maybe TV licence is rising by 10% to cover this institutions continual waste. Please stop showing Dads Army and all those other repeats because I have the DVDs already and can watch at my leisure?
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DaisyMay123
65 Fans
09:47 on 04/05/2012
Agree with you on the "Pass go collect £600,000! Make hay when the son shines." COOL. I do hope the tv licence fee doesn't rise to reflect this.

I don't have any of the Dads Army dvds and love watching their repeats on BBC2 on Saturday evening, pity they don't repeat more of the good old favourites that we all loved in the day, but then the BBC is know for it's repeating of programmes isn't it.
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Common Sense approach
18 Fans
14:20 on 04/05/2012
Is that why they have 4 channels, BBC 1 to 4. Cut the licence fee by 50% or even better still get rid. Hey you can have my DVDs
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
cynic123
70 Fans
15:24 on 03/05/2012
I was flicking through the channels the other night and stoped on the show. Alarge lady was singing she was very good. The camera kept switching to this judge and it was clear he was not happy' He clearly did not agree with the other judges but went along with them when they were saying she the singer was good. Now I read this and it all fits. He needs to return the money and allow some one who wants to be there.
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Russ Nutter
54 Fans
15:04 on 03/05/2012
He is not as passionate about the acts as the other judges and always looks like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar .Where did he come from any way ?
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Neesagon
80 Fans
14:44 on 03/05/2012
I wonder if he was paid up front. Always a mistake.
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