'X Factor' Fans Accuse Show Of 'Making It Up As They Go Along' As Simon Cowell Boastfully Changes Rules

It followed the controversial exit of his act, Shan.

‘X Factor’ fans have accused the show of “making it up as they go along”, after Simon Cowell changed the rules, following the controversial exit of one of his contestants. 

The music mogul decided to extend the number of acts allowed on the upcoming live tour, having been left raging when his act Shan Ako was voted off.

It was a bad night for Simon, who also lost two of the acts in his category, with Bella Penfold also being axed from the ITV talent show earlier in the evening.

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Simon Cowell changed the rules around the 'X Factor' tour for eliminated contestant Shan
Rex/Shutterstock/ITV

After Shan landed in the bottom two alongside group Acacia and Aaliyah, the vote went to Deadlock when the judges failed to agree on who to send home.

It was then revealed Shan would be leaving the competition, at which point Simon made his way up to the stage and announced: “There is something I can do. I can change the rules.”

He continued: “Instead of having six acts on the tour, we’re going to have eight.”

It had only been stated earlier in the show that just the semi-finalists would be heading out on the arena tour next year, and while Shan’s eviction proved to be controversial, fans still called Simon out for so flagrantly flouting the rules that had been set. 

HuffPost UK has contacted an ‘X Factor’ spokesperson for comment and is awaiting a response.

It’s not unfair to say that the current series of ‘X Factor’ has been the shakiest yet, thanks to technical difficultiesmissing judges and the lowest ratings in its 14-year history.

Clearly ITV isn’t ready to pull the plug just yet, though, with Simon revealing last week that the network had extended the show’s contract by three to five more years.

'X Factor' Judges Through The Years
Series 1-3 (2004-2006)(01 of11)
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The original line-up: Sharon Osbourne, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh (credit:ITV)
Series 4 (2007)(02 of11)
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All change: Dannii Minogue joins Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne, with Brian Freidman replacing Louis Walsh.Dermot O'Leary also replaces Kate Thornton as the show's host.
Series 4 (2007)(03 of11)
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The return of the Walsh: Louis makes a comeback after Brian Freidman is axed from the panel after only a few days of auditions.
Series 5-7 (2008-2010)(04 of11)
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The golden era: Cheryl Cole replaces Sharon Osbourne, joining Simon, Dannii and Louis.
Series 8 (2011)(05 of11)
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A mass exodus: Gary Barlow, Tulisa and Kelly Rowland join the only original remaining judge, Louis Walsh.
Series 9 (2012)(06 of11)
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Schermazing: Nicole Sherzinger replaces Kelly Rowland, joining Gary, Tulisa and Louis.
Series 10 (2013)(07 of11)
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She's BACK! Sharon Osbourne rejoins the panel after five years, replacing Tulisa and joining Louis, Gary and Nicole. (credit:Rex)
Series 11 (2014)(08 of11)
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REUNITED: Simon and Cheryl return alongside Louis Walsh and new judge Mel B. (credit:Syco/Thames/ITV)
Series 12 (2015)(09 of11)
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Bye bye Louis: Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora replace Louis and Mel, as they join Simon and Cheryl on the panel. Meanwhile, Caroline Flack and Olly Murs step into Dermot's shoes as hosts. (credit:Twitter)
Series 13-14 (2016-17)(10 of11)
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A vintage line-up: Nicole, Louis and Sharon all stage sensational returns to the panel after the departures of Cheryl, Nick and Rita, while Dermot also returns as host. (credit:ITV)
Series 15 (2018)(11 of11)
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WTF?! Louis Tomlinson becomes the first former contestant to join the panel permanently, while Robbie joins the panel alongside his wife and 'Loose Women' panellist Ayda Field. (credit:Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)