X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger has been accused of “playing the xenophobic card” in the X Factor final.
Nicole, whose act Matt Terry is up against competition favourite Saara Aalto and boy band 5 After Midnight, has been criticised widely on social media.
Finnish singer Saara would become the first ever foreign act to win the singing competition if she is crowned champion on Sunday night.
But introducing Matt, Nicole called on England to “get behind their very own”.
She was accused of being xenophobic by one Twitter user.
#XFactorFinal so shes gonna play the xenophobic card ...england your very own ....er firstly xfactor is uk
— Rob Gilbert-Warsop (@robpw2) December 10, 2016
Sherzy making X Factor all about Brexit
— Vrtl Mrtl (@VrtlMrtl) December 10, 2016
by giving England a shout out. #XFactor
"England it's your very own...." is that a dig at Saara!?? #xfactor
— Dave (@djccwl) December 10, 2016
Nicole clearly feeling threatened, using the England card?!?! #XFactor
— Emily Quek (@Emily_Quek) December 10, 2016
And the fact she only said England also grated on viewers from other parts of the UK.
Yes, he may be from Bromley, which is in England (Kent, actually), but people from all round the UK watch the #xfactor Sherzty #xfactorfinal
— Jeremy Skyrme (@DrSkyrme) December 10, 2016
'Englanddddd'!! Nope, not just England... Try again Nicole!! #DrunkAlready!! #XFactor
— Dean Brown (@DeanoBrown2010) December 10, 2016
People said her comments would end up losing Matt votes from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
@NicoleScherzy You've just lost the Scottish vote. You do know that we are the UK. It's not just England! #xfactorfinal #XFactor
— Graham Joyce (@g_joyce) December 10, 2016
England... Well there goes Matt's votes from Scotland :lol: #XFactor
— Cameron (@camstercairns) December 10, 2016
Did Nicole just scream England? What about Scotland wales and N.ireland it's the United Kingdom you daft old bat... #xfactor #backtoschool
— The old bag (@TheGlitzyBags) December 10, 2016
Later Nicole corrected herself, telling viewers she had not forgotten those in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
