I no longer deserve my place in the show, so I am therefore leaving': Frankie Cocozza is kicked off The X Factor
By Nadia Mendoza
Last updated at 2:32 PM on 8th November 2011
There will be a unanimous sigh of relief across the nation as Frankie Cocozza has been sensationally axed from The X Factor.
The cocky wannabe rockstar was ordered to leave the house this morning, before claiming, 'I no longer deserve my place on the show'.
Show insiders revealed he was forced to leave after 'breaking a golden rule', sparking widespread speculation that he dabbled with drugs.
Troublemaker: Frankie Cocozza has been kicked off The X Factor for 'breaking a golden rule'
Despite his questionable vocals and inflated opinion of himself, the 18-year-old seemed to be winning over the public after escaping the bottom two last weekend; which saw The Risk and Johnny Robinson go.
But now Frankie's backstage antics and wild behaviour have seen him get the boot from producers and be sent home packing.
This afternoon, a statement was released, with Frankie saying: 'I’d like to apologise to Gary, my fellow contestants and everyone who has voted for me, but, as of today, I will no longer be in The X Factor.
'My life during the show has gone out of control and my behaviour off stage has over-stepped the rules of the competition.
'I no longer deserve my place in the show, so I am therefore leaving. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me.'
An X Factor spokesperson confirmed the news, saying: 'Frankie is leaving the show today after breaking competition rules.
'He is going to take some time out before continuing his career as a singer. We wish him all the best for his future.'
No news has been released yet about who, if anyone, will take his place.
The spokeperson simply added: 'We'll make an announcement about Saturday's show tomorrow.'
Cocozza courted controversy from the start, when Gary Barlow originally chose him for live shows over singer Joe Cox for the boys category.
His vocals were weaker than his competitors, but ITV chiefs sold him to the public as a 'cheeky chappy'; a Robbie Williams character who didn't need the voice as had the charisma.
Yet, the teenager sealed his own fate today with constant partying, taking girls back to the house he shares with other contestants, excessive drinking and continual lack of sleep.
Dermot O'Leary revealed on the results show last Sunday that he had laid his head to rest for a mere thirty minutes that evening.
Further drama unfolded yesterday after media watchdog Ofcom launched investigations into his naughty antics.
More than 100 complaints from viewers were logged, with Ofcom launching separate inquiries into Cocozza's swearing on stage and allegedly glamorising alcohol consumption.
Following Saturday's live show, in which Frankie performed a disastrous rendition of I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas, he headed from the X Factor studios to an off-licence with friends.
He then went to a private party before moving on to Funky Buddha, where he met up with a fan before heading home with several girls in tow.
A source said: 'At one point Frankie was seen at a window in just his boxers.
'The party went on until 7am - not the best preparation for Sunday’s show.'
Yesterday, Ofcom launched three investigations into the X Factor – two relating to the behaviour and portrayal of the teenager and one into the mishandling of an on-air competition.
The first inquiry is examining the broadcast of swearing before the 9pm watershed. Ofcom received 102 complaints when, on the October 23 show, Cocozza shouted ‘****ing have it, get in there’ after avoiding eviction in the public vote.
A second investigation relates to a clip aired the previous evening showing what contestants had been doing during the week.
Cocozza was seen spending his free time partying in London nightclubs and Ofcom received 28 complaints that it glamorised and encouraged the misuse of alcohol.
Even though ITV apologised, watchdog bosses were said to be taking the swearing extremely seriously as it comes just weeks after it warned broadcasters over programmes aired before 9pm.
Guidelines issued in September followed 4,500 complaints over ‘soft porn’ performances by singers Rihanna and Christina Aguilera in last year’s X Factor final.
The new regulations aim to help broadcasters comply with the Broadcasting Code rules for pre-watershed content, paying particular attention to family viewing programmes, trailers and soaps.
Last night, an Ofcom source said: 'One of the big issues is the use of the word ****ing before 9pm.
'There is serious significance here as we only put the new guidelines out recently.
'The other issues are in terms of the potential glamorisation of the misuse of alcohol.'
Ofcom is also investigating an on-air competition broadcast on October 22 in which multiple-choice answers were apparently mixed up.
Today, bookmakers Paddy Power refunded Cocozza bets, returning in excess of £10,000 to people who optimistically bet on him to win.
Paddy Power said: 'Frankie punters didn’t get much of a run for their money so we’re only too happy to have a decent excuse to give their money back.'
Liverpudlian hairdresser Marcus Collins remain the bookies 9/4 favourite ahead of Janet Devlin at 3/1 and Craig Colton at 7/2.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2058998/X-Factor-2011-Frankie-Cocozza-leaves-The-X-Factor.html#ixzz1d7py2UV1
