Five X Factor stars in legal threat over treatment on show
SIMON COWELL and his entertainment business Syco have been hit with legal claims from former X Factor contestants.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that as many as five aspiring stars of the now defunct ITV talent show claim that they were not given adequate care while competing.
Sources say that lawyers acting for Cowell have been working on the claims – understood to relate to personal injury – for the past year.
One of the claimants is Katie Waissel who featured in the 2010 series. Last year, she revealed that she had separately reported allegations of sexual assault by a senior music industry figure in a Los Angeles hotel room in 2015 to police.
Other former X Factor contestants are understood to have engaged lawyers who have written to Syco setting out their grievances.
None of the claims has yet been taken to court and it is not known if any financial settlements have been offered or agreed.
Some of the show’s former stars have been critical of the treatment they received. In a post on Twitter, John and Edward Grimes – who performed as Jedward – alleged: ‘Every contestant on The X Factor was a slave to the show and got paid zero while they made millions.’
Cher Lloyd, who took part in the 2011 series, previously said she felt ‘exploited’ by the experience.
Sources close to Cowell have expressed surprise at the claims and insist The X Factor team went ‘above and beyond’ to ensure those taking part were looked after.
‘If anyone knows who was employed at that time by Simon and were involved in his operation, particularly across his TV shows, they will know that the team put the safety needs of their contestants at the forefront of everything,’ one source said.
‘It should also be remembered that people took part because they wanted to be famous. Of course they can’t all win, there are going to be disappointments and there are going to be those who feel it is unfair they didn’t win.’
Mr Cowell and Syco declined to comment.