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X Factor final hit by crisis
Max Thurlow and Alistair Forester, London LiteUpdated 16:23pm on 12 Dec 2008
The X Factor final was thrown into chaos today after Rihanna pulled out at the last minute.
The US star was to perform her hit Umbrella with boyband JLS.
Contestants were left having to swap their celebrity partners around only hours before tomor row night's show.
Crash withdrawl: Rihanna will not be performing
Several have been reduced to tears by the stress of late-night rehearsals as organisers try to scramble their routines together. Alexandra Burke will now team up with Beyoncé, JLS will perform a group duet with Westlife and Eoghan Quigg will sing with Boyzone.
Insiders say Rihanna pulled out to rehearse for her US tour and it is believed the 20-year-old singer wanted to use judge Simon Cowell's private green room as her dressing room.
An insider said: "It has been complete chaos. The organisation which is needed to orchestrate three international acts and the finals is huge - especially as it's all live on prime-time TV.
"The show's bosses are furious that Rihanna has given them so little time to reorganise everything, and they feel rehearsing for her US tour is quite a weak excuse.
"Brian Friedman has had to re-choreograph many of the dance routines, and the added rehearsals have really taken their toll on the contestants.
"Rihanna's people only told them yesterday morning, giving them just two days to reorganise."
X Factor bosses had already been taken aback by a list of demands from Rihanna that even surpassed those of Britney Spears two weeks ago.
Her huge entourage had demanded that metal detectors were set up at entrances to the studios, and no one was to speak to the singer unless spoken to first.
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Like Mariah Carey and Britney before her, Rihanna was to have sole use of Cowell's green room as her dressing room.
Her rider also included the bizarre request of hard-boiled eggs to be available for her throughout the day at any time.
A spokeswoman for Rihanna denied she had pulled out at the last minute, adding: "She was never confirmed for the X Factor. She was only scheduled to fly in for the Jingle Bell Ball and the Royal Variety Performance and was always going to be flying back to the US today."
The latest odds from bookmaker Ladbrokes put Alexandra as the favourite at 8/13, JLS at 9/4 and Eoghan Quigg at 9/2.
Reader views (10)
i wll always look at rhianna in a diffrent light now
Poor eoghan stuck with boyzone awww
ALEXANDRA WON !!!!!!
YOO GOO GIRL
shes fantastic and will go the same way as leona lewis x
- Amyy, prescot-england, 14/12/2008 18:49
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A bit dissappointed ...chances of JLS winning were massive if Rihanna was performing, lets hope they'll pullout anyway...we need a funky easy on the eye boy band and JLS is exactly what we need, I like Alexandra a lot but I think she is not so different from Leona...
Leona was the first girl to win X- factor...let JLS be the first boyband to win the X-factor... I still like Alexandra...but JLS to win!!!
- Michaela, Dublin-Ireland, 13/12/2008 16:57
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I think its time some of these 'stars' got short shrift and we don't indulge them in their ridiculous behaviour and demands. Overpaid overhyped over sensitive ninnies. I wonder how her country men in Barbados feel about her... not much I expect. These people get a bit of fame and thats it - ego all the way. Poor JLS - oh well at least we will see them wipe the floor with Westlife ! But at least they are home grown and maybe thats a lesson to us - stick with our own stars... especially after the Britney debacle which definately wasn't worth the hype.
- Tr, Sussex, 13/12/2008 12:06
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Poor Eoghan stuck with Boyzone! No offence to Boyzone but they dont have the same pull as Beyonce. Ms Minogue should force Kylie to do it again! Talk about dragging in the favours, why doesnt Simon ask Sinita to sing with someone, or just push the boat out and ask girls aloud to do it (mind you they might not want to be shown up!)
- Ned, staffs, 12/12/2008 22:30
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A spokeswoman for Rihanna denied she had pulled out at the last minute, adding: "She was never confirmed for the X Factor. She was only scheduled to fly in for the Jingle Bell Ball and the Royal Variety Performance and was always going to be flying back to the US today."
she has a show in miami today and left this a.m so i find it hard to believe she would have confirmed to do this show when she was long ago confirmed in miami
- Stephen Park, Dubai, 12/12/2008 17:05
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Some of these singers take themselves way too seriously. She should take a leaf out of Beyonce's book, turn up, look beautiful, be nice and increase your fan base.
- Sharon, London, 12/12/2008 16:15
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Well JLS are doomed then if they are stuck with Westlife. i reckon Alex has got it in the bag then.
- Pa, London, 12/12/2008 14:57
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Ugggh, what a totally vile witch - who does she think she is, she can't sing for her life and why on earth would anyone want to sing about an umbrella anyway....
- A, Berkshire, 12/12/2008 14:33
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" and no one was to speak to the singer unless spoken to first. "
I love this - what would happen in the fictional scenario of starting to choke on one of her hard boiled eggs ?
You wouldn't be allowed to ask her if she wanted help, probably couldn't touch her to carry out the heimlich and with no metal allowed in the area couldn't get a stretcher to her !
Lordy !
- Dixon Kipretich, Ugley, Essex, 12/12/2008 13:38
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Sorry, but this makes me laugh !! HAHAHAHA.......
- John, London, 12/12/2008 12:59
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