Popular TV3 programme X Factor has backed down this evening, and is now apologising for celebrating the musical talents of a man who was convicted of manslaughter in 2004.
Shae Brider, 29, appeared on the show on Tuesday, where he impressed the audience and four gushing, human-shaped clay moulds placed behind a glowing blue desk.
He was given the green light to advance to the next stage of the competition.
But some took offence to the sympathetic portrayal of Brider, and after an intense week of controversy, MediaWorks now admits it was wrong.
“Look, in the initial stage, what we said is, ‘everyone deserves a second chance’, which is something actually quite close to our hearts, because that’s how we felt about X Factor, you know, in producing this second season,” said Andrew Szusterman, director of Entertainment at MediaWorks.
“But really, we know now that, that was a bit ignorant of us, because, of course, every reasonable human being knows that, that’s true of the justice system, but in the media, I mean, your whole persona is about the worst thing you’ve ever done.
“And that’s really how it should be, so we’d like to say sorry, and we’re going to do our best to put this right.”
Szusterman confirmed that he had spoken to the show’s producers, and they had agreed to drop Brider, and would be replacing him with a “less offensive” contestant: now-acquitted former murder convictee David Bain.
Bain, who performed a one-man musical version of his family’s tragic murder on Monday’s X Factor, was narrowly rejected by the judges, who were torn on whether his performance was the “right fit” for the show.
“I’m just, I’m not really feelin’ it, bro,” said Randy Jackson equivalent Stan Walker. “It was just a bit dark, aye?”
Simon Cowell equivalent Willy Moon agreed, saying that there was something “off” about the performance, and while he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, it “may have been to do with the sort of, brutal murder of children.”
But the two Paula Abduls on the panel disagreed, saying that Bain’s performance was “captivating” and “heartfelt”, though were confused about why he chose to portray himself as the murderer, rather than his late father Robin Bain.
“It’s just sort of a– a version as if I had done it,” a sheepish Bain told the judges.
Szusterman expected that, although Bain was initially rejected by the judges, viewers would “welcome” his return.
“When we listened to feedback from our viewers,” he said, “one thing we very quickly learned was that, a lot of this upset was from the fact that ‘Look, this guy’s a convicted killer.’ You know, he was definitely responsible.
“But with David Bain, he was actually acquitted in the end, so, you know, there’s still some doubt there.
“I can’t foresee there being a problem with this at all.”