Irish duo Jedward have spoken out against The X Factor in a series of tweets. Twin brothers John and Edward Grimes, who rose to fame on the television show in 2009, have criticised the show’s treatment of its famous stars. The X Factor – which has produced successful artists such as Olly Murs, Alexandra Burke, One Direction, JLS and Little Mix – last aired in 2018, with spin-off shows X Factor: Celebrity and X Factor: The Band airing in 2019.
Jedward posted on Twitter: “Every contestant on the Xfactor was a slave to the show and got paid Zero while they made millions!”, followed by “The fact that every contestant has to act like their judge mentors them! When in reality all they care about is their pay check!”
Every contestant on the Xfactor was a slave to the show and got paid Zero while they made millions!
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) April 5, 2021
They also wrote: “There’s a reason Syco is called Psycho! 1D and Little Mix are legally fucked in contracts and can never speak out so we are!” and “There’s nothing MODEST about their previous management dictating their every move from Relationships to how they live their own lives! Justice for 1D & Little Mix.”
There’s nothing MODEST about their previous management dictating their every move from Relationships to how they live their own lives! Justice for 1D & Little Mix
— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) April 5, 2021
Jedward are not the first X Factor artists to speak out against poor treatment by music management. In March 2021, singer and X Factor finalist Rebecca Ferguson tweeted: “I am not even being silent anymore, You forced me to sign contracts, blackmailed me, bullied me, robbed me, I am not even being scared anymore I have looked back and I am disgusted in how you all treated an innocent young woman! who just wanted to sing! shame on you!”
2012 finalist Lucy Spraggan said in a recent interview with OK Magazine: “There was absolutely no offer of support for anyone’s mental health, or really their physical health… They have a lot of questions to answer about duty of care across the board, not just ITV but the people behind it.”
After placing sixth in the sixth series of The X Factor, Jedward went on to release four albums, the most recent being 2019’s Voice of a Rebel. The pair also represented Ireland in the 2011 and 2012 Eurovision Song Contests. They have also featured in a variety of documentaries and reality TV programmes, including Celebrity Big Brother. They have recently been known for being outspoken on current issues such as women’s rights, trans rights, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
