QUICK DISCLAIMER: All views & OPINIONS expressed in Matt's Column are his own and the topics are that of his own choice. These are not articles.
As The X Factor concluded its boot camp stages over the weekend, those who watched saw head judge Gary Barlow tell 16 year old contestant and fame wannabe Luke Lucas that he had not made it to the live finals stage of the competition.
Viewers uncomfortably saw Luke burst into floods of tears, his heart, break in the front of our very eyes, his dreams shattered into numerous bits and pieces and he sobbed, oh boy did he sob! Many have commented on the possibility of this is exploitation and that there should be an immediate rule change so that wannabe pop stars and musicians cannot enter the X Factor competition if they are under the age of 18... As let’s face it, they are children!
The X Factor has been criticised numerous times this series with people stating that the show’s producers are exploiting contestants we saw it only the other week with contestant Ceri Rees.
Gary Barlow is at the centre of the latest complaints, owing to Luke’s breakdown in front of millions of viewers.
The reality is, Gary Barlow knows the music business inside and out. He is an extremely talented songwriter and can even splurt out the odd tune! Facing facts, Luke just simply wasn’t good enough; if he was they would have let him through. The fact of him reacting how he did in my opinion only proves the fact, that if he had gone into the live shows it would have been entirely worse if he would have reacted the same on a live show, with people voting to save him in as a result of allow me to use the word “pity.” Do I myself think people of the age 16 should be allowed on competitions such as this? Certainly not! The fact is, age is a barrier! Albeit rules change to what people can and cannot do at the age of 16 in their own lives, but to be used as an object on what effectively is a television show just should certainly not be happening! Luke, couldn’t remain as a contestant as he just didn’t cut the mustard, at 16 rejection and naivety are two things which comes to mind and if he/she did want their chance to shine they should do so from the age of 18 onwards. 
The public reaction has been mixed of the show this year and it seems to me that the shows format is wearing incredibly thin! The whole affair is going to drag on until Christmas and yes there has been many series before with young entrants proving successful and possible showbiz careers, but me personally I do not want to see CHILDREN being put through this form of mental process... if they are a star in the making, then I’m sure their chance to shine will one day come regardless!
Comments