Judge Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones have been unceremoniously dumped from the X Factor USA after just one season.
Simon Cowell's former darling Paula Abdul today confirmed she had also been fired from the panel in a desperate shake-up by the mogul and the show's producers. 'Yes, it’s true; I won’t be returning to The X Factor next season,' Abdul said in a statement today.
'I’ve learned through my longevity in this industry that business decisions often times override personal considerations. She continued: 'Simon is, and will remain a dear friend of mine and I’ve treasured my experience working this past season.
I want nothing more than for The X Factor to exceed ALL of their wildest dreams. This truly has been a blessing and I am most grateful.'
The decision to dismiss Abdul has surprised many, given how hard Cowell worked to secure her on the panel. It took several months for her contract to negotiated and she only closed her deal hours before the first televised audition. 'You just have to get that chemistry, and she’s right,' he said at the time. 'I’ve never found anyone better than her.'
Both Abdul and Scherzinger were embroiled in the controversy surrounding the shock elimination of 13-year-old frontrunner Rachel Crow.Cowell hinted at a major changes on the show last month when he was quoted as saying: 'We change these shows all the time.' And he said in a statement today: 'I want to say a massive thank you to Paula, Nicole and Steve for being part of The X Factor last year.
I'm sure all three are going to have massive success in what they do next , but now is the time to thank them all for everything they did last year.'Although the X Factor performed solidly in the ratings, hovering around the 12 million mark, it did not attract the same kind of huge viewing figures regularly attained by Cowell's former show American Idol.
