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The latest episode of Simon Cowell's The X Factor USA was cut short last night because of a delayed baseball game.
Cowell was forced to apologise to viewers via Twitter and levelled a foul-mouthed jibe at X Factor station 'Fox' after last night's 'last 16 reveal' show was sacrificed.
The episode was first aired 40 minutes later than scheduled, and was then cut short in favour of less-popular US show The Mindy Project - with no explanation.
Cowell took to Twitter in order to explain, writing: "Have no idea what is happening to the schedule tonight. Have heard the whole episode will be shown next Tuesday. Sorry.
He added: "It what's known as a total f up."
The situation was made worse by the fact that one of the show's contestants was just about to learn their fate on the talent contest, before the rest of the episode was scrapped.
Fox have already announced that the full episode will be re-screened next Tuesday. But to make matters worse, they've picked a slot that clashes with rival show 'The Voice' - which has already been winning the ratings war.
Simon Cowell with US X Factor judges L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato and Britney Spears.
Unsurprisingly, American X Factor enthusiasts were equally unhappy with the unexpected scrapping of the episode.
A tweet from one disgruntled viewer read: "WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW!!! SOMEONE HELP ME B4 I PASS OUT FROM ANXIETY AND BUILT UP ANTICIPATION!! WHERE IS THE SHOW? Ok seriously is this a joke? What is going on? Am I being punk'd? My stomach is literally in a knot!"
The relationship between Cowell and Fox had already been slightly strained after a similar incident occurred during the last series.
However this was at the 'judges houses' stage of the competition, which means that the latest falling out could have serious implications in terms of where US audiences are able to see the next series of the show.
Watch a clip of a contestant calling out Demi Lovato at the auditions:
Photos: X Factor: from the early days to a bubble ready to burst
