Louis Tomlinson claims The X Factor was ‘unethical at times’

Louis Tomlinson has claimed that shows like The X Factor can be ‘unethical at times’, in a new interview.

The 34-year-old shot to fame as one fifth of One Direction in 2010, after he entered the ITV competition show with an infamously pitchy rendition of Hey There Delilah.

Despite missing out on The X Factor trophy, the next five years of 1D passed in a whirl of fame in which they became one of the bestselling boy bands of all time.

One Direction then sensationally split, with Zayn Malik the first to jump ship, leaving each of them to find their footing in the post-boy band pantheon.

Their early careers coming up on The X Factor have come under renewed scrutiny after Liam Payne tragically fell to his death from a Buenos Aires hotel room in 2024, following years of public struggles with substance abuse and fame.

Payne’s death has raised questions over the duty of care when the spotlight moves on from stars.

Tomlinson, who is back with a third solo album How Did I Get Here?, had admitted that without The X Factor, he would not be a pop singer now.

The Doncaster lad told The Sun: ‘It’s the power of those shows – The X Factor and stuff – they are unethical at times.

‘I’m sure if we reflect on those shows, we could do better by the contestants.

‘But it is also one of these things that gives a lot of opportunity. Like I would never have been a singer if it wasn’t for that show. It is as simple as that.’

Simon Cowell has also fielded questions about Payne’s death in recent months, having signed the group with his record label in 2011.

Asked by The New York Times if he ‘knew at the time’ that Payne was struggling, he replied: ‘A little bit. There was stuff I never would have spoken about then, private conversations and advice I tried to give him, which is what comes with fame, etc.

‘But you’re signing a lot of artists, and when you sign an artist, my role is, essentially, get them with the right production team, get the managers, and try and make them successful. But at the same time, I probably had about 20 artists on my books at the time.’

Cowell added that, as his signings become famous and start working with different teams, ‘it is a little bit like they leave the nest’.

The interviewer reminded Cowell that One Direction were ‘kids’ when they were signed by him, to which the talent show judge admitted label boss-artist relationships are ‘complicated’.

He added that ‘every artist is different’ and it is ‘equally difficult’ both ‘trying to be famous’ and ‘managing your fame’.

Metro contacted The X Factor for comment on this story.

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