X Factor's top 12 revealed

Herald online

10 Mar, 2015 06:57 PM3 mins to read

The X Factor judges have spoken, selecting their top 12 contestants ahead of the live shows

The judges have spoken - but not everyone's happy about it.

X Factor's top 12 have been revealed with judges Willy Moon and Melanie Blatt locking in their top three contestants ahead of Sunday night's first live show.

But fans have been quick to criticise some of the judges' calls, including Blatt's decision to include Joe Irvine in the final line up.

Happy with Steve & Sarah, but Joe #XFactorNZ pic.twitter.com/iIAayIe08s
— Weslee #TeamDay (@WSpark98NZ) March 10, 2015

Joe is clearly meant to piss people off! #Xfactornz
— iLoveMeBeingMe (@LoveMeBeingMe) March 10, 2015

Fans were also upset by Moon's decision to drop sibling act Duel in favour of the band Stuss, including broadcaster Hilary Barry who created a 'sillywilly' hashtag to mark her disappointment.

Noooooooooooooo!!!!! Don't dump Duel!!!! #xfactornz #sillywilly
— Hilary Barry (@Hilary_Barry) March 10, 2015

Stuss over Duel?!?? Stuss over nobody! Oh god! #xfactornz
— Nic Sampson (@NicSampson) March 10, 2015

Is @willymoon joking?! Duel was the best band he had #badchoice #unimpressed #xfactornz
— Aimee (@MissAimeeJean) March 10, 2015

if stuss goes through I am going to set my rented television alight #xfactornz
— Claire (@claireysan) March 10, 2015

Others were distraught after Natalia Kills' decision to ditch crowd-favourite, 14-year-old Archie Hill in last night's episode.

If Archie or Micah aren't Wildcard options I'm going to rage!!! #xfactornz
— Dylan Heta - AshleyBKeenan Stan Account (@TheDylanHeta) March 9, 2015

Archie, Micah AND Reiki didn't get through? I am D O N E with #xfactornz
— Hana (@hurrohana) March 9, 2015

OK FIRST KALSEY DIDNT GET THROUGH AND NOW MICAH AND ARCHIE ARE OUT! SERIOUSLY NOT WATCHING ANYMORE. #XFACTORNZ
— we are the foxes (@glitterswiftie) March 9, 2015

Stan Walker also chose not to take his youngest contestant through to the live shows, 14-year-old Jazzy Axton.

Noooooooo!! I love Jazzy!!! #xfactornz
— Jay-Jay Feeney (@JJFeeneyNZ) March 8, 2015

I honestly thought Jazzy would win! Gutted she's gone. NZ needs a fierce pop star like her #xfactornz
— Miss Geena (@MissGeenaX) March 10, 2015

But fans still have a chance to save one of their favourites, with each judge nominating a wild card act that the public can vote to bring back. Joseph, Jazzy, Archie and country duo Mae Valley are all in the running to return.