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Fresh from being sacked from X Factor New Zealand and becoming an international subject of ridicule, Natalia Kills and Willy Moon have both issued separate statements on the 'bullying' incident.
Kills and Moon were both sacked from the show this week after they attacked contestant Joe Irvine for copying Moon's style and comparing him to a serial killer.
Writing on Twitter, Kills, naturally, points to a conspiracy: "A lot goes on behind-the-scenes of a reality show and what you see isn't always the whole story. The show brought me on to bring my passion, dramatic expression and perspective. I was encouraged to be outspoken and things got out of hand."
Watch Willy Moon and Natalia Kills savage an X Factor contestant below
Now while we at Gigwise are certain that producers asked her to be provocative (it makes for better TV), the fact that she decided to completely tear apart the outfit/dreams of a young singer remains ridiculous. Kills also addresses the contestant directly.
"Joe, I hope you can forgive me and I wish you the best!" she wrote. "Be natural, unconventional and be you!"
In an interview with Billboard Kills also responds to the rumours that the entire response was a publicity stunt.
"I feel like everyone needs to put the idea of it being a manufactured conspiracy theory behind them, there's really nothing to it," Kills says. "I love my husband with all of my heart, we'll stick together no matter what. There are many sides to this story and I am not about to get an entire industry in trouble that has been going on for years and years entertaining the masses, so thank you absolutely everyone for your support."
In a statement, Moon echoed these sentiments. "The reality of "reality" TV is that there's a lot the viewer doesn't see," says Moon. "The show encourages judges to be forthright and highly opinionated. It went too far and I never intended to single anyone out. I wish the contestants, crew, and particularly Joe, all the best."
Note that neither of the pair actually apologise during their statements. What's particularly interesting is that now that they feel the matter is settled Moon and Kills have now returned full scale to Twitter. Kills is busy tweeting congratulations to Madonna for Rebel Heart (for which she cowrote a number of tracks) while Moon is flirting with her and comparing salty snack foods.
THESE PRETZELS ARE MAKING ME THIRSTY!
— Willy Moon (@willymoon) March 16, 2015
Natalia Kills released two albums under record label Cherrytree, the latest of which was 2013's aptly-named Trouble - but a representative for Cherrytree Records in America told Daily Mail Australia: "Natalia and Cherrytree parted ways months ago."
Read Gigwise's interview with a man who listened to Natalia Kills for nearly 39 hours without a break and lived to tell the tale.
