X FACTOR HOPEFUL Frankie Cocozza is reported to have been kicked off the show after prompting over 100 official complaints after he swore during a live broadcast, and for failing to curb his hard-partying ways.
The show’s Twitter account today said that the 18-year-old singer had been removed from the show, with Cocozza admitting that his “life during the show has gone out of control and my behaviour off stage has over-stepped the rules of the competition.
“I no longer deserve my place in the show, so I am therefore leaving. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me,” Cocozza’s statement concluded.
A spokesperson for the show said Cocozza was leaving “after breaking competition rules”.
“He is going to take some time out before continuing his career as a singer. We wish him all the best for his future,” they added.
Sky News said it understood that Cocozza’s disqualification from the series related to the use of drugs.
The Sun cited sources within the show who said Cocozza had also angered the show’s producers in breaking a “golden rule” by loudly saying the F word during a broadcast two weekends ago.
During the live televised Sunday night results show on October 23, Cocozza yelled, “Fucking have it!” when he was confirmed as being safe from elimination – around 20 minutes before the 9pm TV watershed kicked in.
The Guardian reported that the British media regulator Ofcom had received 102 complaints over that swearing, as well as a further 28 complaints over footage of him aired on the previous night’s show.
In that video sequence, Cocozza – who has been portrayed on the show as a hard-partying ladies’ man – was seen partying in nightclubs in the city. The complaints received by Ofcom argued that he was glamourising the use and abuse of alcohol.
Cocozza controversially survived last weekend’s elimination round despite what many saw as a poor performance. During the Sunday results show it emerged that Cocozza had only managed 30 minutes’ sleep the previous night, after spending his night partying.
Other acts had encouraged Frankie to try and take the show more seriously in recent weeks. The Risk’s Ashford Campbell said Cocozza “balances the work and the play – but at the minute I think he’s just enjoying the playing”.
Paddy Power has refunded all bets on Cocozza to win the series outright, saying it was refunding over £10,000 to 1,200 customers who had placed bets on Cocozza to win the series.
Tyrone teenager Janet Devlin remains a popular bet to win the series, standing second after Liverpool hairdresser Marcus Collins.
