X Factor in crisis: Kelly Rowland to miss weekend shows after bust-up with Tulisa

EXCLUSIVE

By Sara Nathan

Last updated at 7:53 PM on 28th October 2011

Show bosses say singer has sore throat
Kelly flew to Los Angeles following bust-up with Tulisa
Nicole Scherzinger favourite to replace her

Kelly Rowland has left the X Factor in crisis after refusing to return to the show – following her fallout with co-star Tulisa Contostavlos.

The Destiny’s Child singer, 30, flew to Los Angeles this week, leaving her three hopefuls to work on their own performances alone

And tonight, panicking X Factor bosses were forced into 11th hour meetings as Miss Rowland claimed she had a throat infection and would not be able fly back to the UK for the ITV show.

Tension: Kelly Rowland had a falling out with fellow judge Tulisa Contostavlos on last week's show before jetting off to Los Angeles

A statement read: 'Kelly is devastated she won't be here for this weekend's show. She is extremely ill with a viral throat infection and her doctors aren't permitting her to fly.

'Kelly will be returning to the show as soon as she has recovered. The girls have been in touch to wish her a speedy recovery and they can't wait for her to get back. More news as we have it.'

They are now looking for someone to replace her on the judging panel tomorrow and X Factor USA judge Nicole Scherzinger, who will be performing on Sunday’s results show is the hot favourite to step into her shoes.

A show source told the Daily Mail: 'Quite honestly, it’s expected that the judges would have to be on their death bed to miss a show.

'The fact that Kelly has a throat infection hardly seems that desperate.

'The producers are less than impressed and we’ve have had less than 24 hours to pick someone to stand in for her.'

Cross words: Miss Rowland is still not speaking to her fellow judge Miss Contostavlos after the pair fell out live on air last weekend

Feud: Kelly and Tulisa nearly fell out onscreen after the N-Dubz star accused Misha B of bullying contestants

Miss Rowland is still not speaking to her fellow judge Miss Contostavlos after the pair fell out live on air on last week’s show.

And the insider added: 'Kelly is turning into a real diva, she’s been on the phone to all the producers all week moaning about Tulisa’s antics.'

The N-Dubz singer, 23, had accused one of Miss Rowland’s hopefuls, Misha Bryan, of being mean to her own wannabes.

Fellow judge Louis Walsh then waded into the row by calling Misha, 19, a 'bully' - and was then forced to apologise to the viewers.

Miss Rowland had then fled the studio without speaking to Miss Contostavlos following last Sunday night’s results show.

And just a day later she flew to Los Angeles, although later denied reports that she had fled the country following her bust-up with her co-star, instead, saying it was a long-planned work trip.

That's my girl: Kelly defended Misha B via her Twitter page after the row

Miss Bryan, 19, from Manchester, had received positive comments from the judges for her performance of Prince's 'Purple Rain' on Saturday’s rock-themed show, but Walsh sparked a war of words when said he feared she was too ‘over-confident’.

He told her: 'You’re very confident, you’re a very confident performer. I hope you’re not too over-confident.'

Miss Contostavlos, who is mentoring the groups, then inflamed the situation, saying: 'There is no doubt about it, when it comes to talent you are way up there.

'Most people they come into the competition and they need to be built up and progress, but you came as a whole package and you are definitely the star of the show.

'But I do have one negative this week. I think you are very competitive and I’ve seen a different side of you backstage and you don’t realise that you do it, but in some ways you being so feisty can come across as quite mean to certain contestants and I’ve been told by a few this week there’s been a few mean comments towards them.

'I’m not putting you down but take that feistiness and energy when you get on the stage and leave them all behind. Put aside the attitude.'

Absent: Former Destiny's Child star Kelly has been away all week, missing mentoring sessions with members of her group

Miss Rowland insisted: 'We leave things backstage, backstage, but you brought it on stage and you brought it clean and clear and on fire tonight. I am so very proud of you, continue to work hard and you’re supposed to be confident when you go on stage.'

She then turned to Walsh and said: 'I think some of your categories should get some more confidence.'

Walsh, who is looking after the Over 25s category, then interjected: 'One of my contestants has complained about Misha bullying her backstage.'

Afterwards, Miss Contostavlos remained defiant, saying: 'I feel like if you are going to portray a certain person on stage, it should be the same person that’s backstage.

Replacement? Nicole Scherzinger, who will be performing on this week's show, is hotly tipped to take over Kelly's place on the judging panel

'I feel like when it comes to energy, it’s a different character but when it comes to who you are, if she’s being someone else backstage and said a bitchy comment to one of my acts then I’m going to express it.'

But Miss Rowland hit back: 'I think that deserves to stay backstage, I think there is a time and a place for everything and we were here tonight to judge them for what they did onstage and not for what is going on backstage.'

A spokesman for Miss Rowland said tonight: 'She’s really sick.

'Her doctor is not permitting her to fly. She won’t be here for tonight’s show. She has a viral throat infection. She is really, really sick.

'She has not gone AWOL. She will be back. She’s been in contact with the girls. She’s been on intravenous drips. Her doctor will not permit her to fly. She tried to get on a flight today but her doctor wasn’t letting her.'

An X Factor spokeswoman said: ‘The most important thing is for Kelly to get better.’

Walsh, 59, only missed a show when Boyzone Stephen Gately died in 2009.