Natalia Kills Breaks Her Silence 'Simon Cowell Is A Harsher Judge Than Me!'

Ousted X Factor NZ judge Natalia Kills has defended the incident that got her sacked, saying her comments were "light" compared to things Simon Cowell says on the show.

Kills has spoken at length for the first time since being engulfed in a bullying controversy that saw her and husband Willy Moon axed as judges from The X Factor New Zealand.

The pair attacked contestant Joe Irvine over his performance of Cry Me a River and outfit, with Kills saying he had copied Moon's look. Moon compared the Invercargill singer to a serial killer. Both were sacked by Mediaworks the following day, following a public outcry and disquiet from the show's sponsors.

Kills and Moon sought refuge from a barrage of abuse as the story went global, returning to their home in New York and - aside from a brief apology and some occasional Twitter comments - have mostly remained silent.

Until now.

Kills spoke directly with NZ Herald via Twitter, addressing the incident in detail and saying it had been hard "knowing the truth about what really went on, and not being able to say anything in my defence".

She compared the comments that got her sacked to things said by Cowell on The X Factor, and celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay in his cooking reality show Hell's Kitchen.

"I've been a fan of The X Factor and Simon Cowell my whole life and what we said is light compared to what Gordon Ramsay, Simon Cowell and many others have said on national television and been celebrated for," she said.

"It's so sad how they encourage so much drama but then when their sponsor and the public react badly they release a statement branding us as 'bullies'."

Cowell, the creator of The X Factor franchise, has addressed the incident, telling the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine Kills sounded "mad".

"It was hateful. She sounded mad. It didn't even make sense ... Where they cocked up was that they didn't apologise straight away. If they'd both been genuinely sorry and called me, and apologised to the guy and his family, who knows what could have happened?

"They didn't. They were quite defensive."

TV3 has been approached for comment and is expected to respond to Kills' comments shortly.

Irvine, who was eliminated from the show this week, was praised for his reaction to Kills and Moon's criticism. During the furore, he received a personalised note and a box of cupcakes in support from pop star Lorde.

Kills, who has suffered a barrage of "hurtful and terrifying" online abuse including death threats since the incident, told the Herald she and her husband were critical of Irvine - but denied they were bullies.

"The racism, homophobia, death and rape threats and online attacks have been a real eye opener to what bullying really is," she said.

"It's not the same as criticism. It's not the same as being told off for your outfit choice. It's far greater and sadder than anything I've ever witnessed and I refuse to be the victim of it.

"When Joe hinted at what his show was going to be like I just knew, you know? And the fact that he didn't even react made it obvious to everyone (he was copying Moon) but coming from a music background, my husband and I had no idea how 'reality' TV was set up."

Kills, an actress and pop singer and writer, said she and Wellington-born Moon were doing well since returning home, and she was working on new music "non-stop".

"Since being home we've been so relieved! Music is where we belong. Madonna's album came out with my song Holy Water we co-wrote so I've been in the studio non-stop with some of the world's biggest producers and I'm working on my new music project too, writing songs with Willy despite everything."

Kills said the pair parted ways with TV3 "on good terms" and they were glad to have left the show when they did.

"It makes me glad to have got out before it got even worse. God only know what else could have happened!

- nzherald.co.nz