X Factor judges fume at hotel's online stunt

The Rotorua hotel manager who listed sheets, pillowcases and towels used by X Factor judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon on TradeMe says he was just trying to market the hotel.

The couple stayed at Jack & Di's in Ngongotaha last Thursday night.

Hotel manager John Stenning then listed the couple's linen, feedback form and a photo of them with hotel staff on Trade Me for $500.

Kills is an English singer, actress, record producer, fashion designer, model and director who has supported Kesha and Katy Perry.

Moon, her husband, is a New Zealand-born musician, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his 2012 single Yeah Yeah.

On Thursday night, Kills blasted the "gross hotel staff" on Twitter for listing the used linen.

"Sex literally sells ... Famous enough to have things I've touched get hawked for cash ..."
She then threatened violence if she ever saw the staff again.

Mr Stenning, who has only been manager of the hotel for two-and-a-half weeks, said he wasn't intending to make money out of the couple.

"The linen had already gone through the circulation of being washed when I listed it," he said. "I was just trying to get a bit more marketing out there to show that they'd stayed."

Mr Stenning said he hadn't expected the situation to get so out of hand.

"It's the first time I've done something stupid like this. We were hyped up about having them stay ... We even talked about calling the room they stayed in after them."

Mr Stenning said he listed the items a day or two after the couple stayed. He intended to take the listing down but forgot about it. He had since removed the list, apologised to the couple on air and sent an apology tweet and text.

Jack & Di's co-owner, Jessica Zhao, became aware of the listing when contacted by media and called it "terrible" for business.