Drew Ryniewicz Eliminated in X Factor Shocker
Credit: FOX
Drew Ryniewicz's X Factor journey has officially ended.
The bubbly blonde 14-year-old found herself in the bottom two during Thursday's double elimination episode, getting the boot along with teen rapper Brian "Astro" Bradley.
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In what was arguably the show's most shocking elimination to date, Simon Cowell, Ryniewicz's mentor, blamed himself for her exit, and argued that his song choice for her -- Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" -- did her in.
"I shouldn't have chosen that song," Cowell reasoned of the King of Pop's hit, which he stripped down for the teen singer, who performed ballad-style sitting on a chair without any fanfare or dancers. "It was too slow. I should have listened to the others."
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Cowell voted to keep Ryniewicz, but fellow judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid axed her in favor of Marcus Canty.
"I've not seen this side of Simon before!" Abdul reasoned to Us Weekly backstage after the eliminations. "If anyone ever thought it was BS how much we get involved, it's not. It got to Simon that at times all three of us [judges] were saying, 'You need to show diversity with Drew.' Drew has a beautiful voice and a recognizable quality but in these competitions, playing it safe doesn't always pay off."
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Despite Thursday's outcome, Abdul applauds Cowell for owning up to his mistake.
"Simon displayed the ability to be humbled, which is a very difficult thing for him. I respect him even more after tonight," she told Us. "But it's hard. And being humbled and taking the blame isn't something we've seen from Simon."
Though he still has two contestants -- Rachel Crow and Melanie Amaro -- to mentor in the competition, Cowell says he'll continue to think about what could have been with Ryniewicz.
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"Every time I've done one of these shows, something like this has happened," he said Thursday. "I remember for example it happened with Jennifer Hudson [on American Idol]. At the time it was the song and this time a similar thing has happened. I think we got it wrong on the night and that was the problem. If you could rewind the tape, you'd do it differently. I certainly wouldn't use the chair [as a prop during Drew's performance again]. That chair is going to be chopped to pieces! And I'll do the chopping myself!"
Tell Us: Did Drew deserve to get the boot?
Tell Us What You Think
53I personally think XFactor took an extremely gifted class talent and used it as a pawn in a reality TV circus act, eliminated her from competition and more of less "slandered" her soulful voice. Complete travesty. I hope Universal is smart enough to sign her and Epic NEVER ever gets their hands on her again.
FORGET ABOUT WHO HAS THE X FACTOR. DREW HAS THE $$$ FACTOR........Live Performance Sales on iTunes....... Drew $140k ----- Josh $80k ----- Mel $70k ----- Chris $45k ----- Rachel $40k ----- Marcus $20k.........Whenever a great artist first hits the scene, they are never liked or disliked. They are hated intensely and loved passionately all at the same time.... SO...Every time someone calls Drew the boring yodeler, all it does is piss off millions of Drewbies Fans. To the point where they dedicate their lives to buying every Drew album, poster, t-shirt & trinket they can find. Then they proudly display them while they give the world the middle finger. HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU DREW - AND YOUR BEDROOM SHRINE DEDICATED TO MOST HATED OF THEM ALL - JUSTIN BIEBER....Love you girl. Tomorrow "I'm voting for Act 6"
Tonight when voting opens up, everyone should vote via Twitter and instead of "I vote for Act _", type in "I vote for Drew Ryniewicz". It'll show X Factor how many of us still support Drew! =D Ill keep repeating this message. Everyone do there part to Tweet Simon and ask him to give Drew a massive shout out on this weeks live show and to possibly lets her fans no whats to come in her recording future. But be polite it goes along way.
Tonight when voting opens up, everyone should vote via Twitter and instead of "I vote for Act _", type in "I vote for Drew Ryniewicz". It'll show X Factor how many of us still support Drew! =D Ill keep repeating this message. Everyone do there part to Tweet Simon and ask him to give Drew a massive shout out on this weeks live show and to possibly lets her fans no whats to come in her recording future. But be polite it goes along way.
no! she was amazing. her talent, at 14, unbelievable! i hope she gets a contract somewhere!
I have never been so disappointed in my life. I wish Paula could have at the very least tied the votes and let America decide. I promise you if that happened, Drew would not have gone home. The only thing wrong with Drew, is that she had a talented but very hated mentor, and therefore, they voted against Simon, not Drew. I have never felt so sick about an elimination in my life. I wouldn't be surprised if X-Factor ratings drop SIGNIFICANTLY due to this. I know i certainly wont be watching the show any longer. I look forward to your first album Drew, I promise I will be in line waiting for it.
"A Star Is Born" - That is the reality of Drew's amazing run on X Factor. Allthough it's clear the inside politics of the show sealed her fate., the unbelievable media/press frenzy that has followed - along with the millions of fans worldwide supporting her from You Tube to Facebook and Twitter has brought her instant fame.. and she's just getting started. Here in Hollywood, Ca. - we know a star when we see one. Drew is the TOTAL PACKAGE with depth and real soul way beyond her years. With superstar traits of Alanis Morrissette to Sarah Mclachlan - once unleashed.. she has the potential to become legendary.
Simon surely had it coming..i agree he played it too safe with drew and that was his downfall and sadly drew had to pay the price. I dont think much of marcus canty either, his singing is predictable and boring and that should make him next to be eliminated..chris rene is also starting to bore me and LA should be very careful with his song choosing. I really want to see rachael or josh go well..josh has a great voice and given the right songs he could easily win..rachael on the other hand is such an awesome singer and will only get better in time. Its going to be a very close one..i think simons group just MIGHT win this..good luck TEAM SIMON!!! and good riddance to astro..man he was starting to piss me off!
Absolute joke...are you all out of your minds over there!!Drew has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard how the hell did she get voted off?!
Why does it matter that she sounded the same? Her voice and performances were good every time. Many of Adele's songs sound the exact same and she is amazing and so is her voice and judging by her record sales I'd say a lot of people agree. Saying she sounds the same every week but is still amazing is kind of backwards. Shouldn't she be rewarded for being consistently good?
I cannot believe the show is working the way it is.As much as I want my Ohio Josh to win,(because he IS good),drew just has this quality to her voice that made me want to listen to her.Drew is very young,and the pressure put on her by the judges public bickering was just downright awful.The rules need to be changed,so the judges don't play "against" one another.If they want to keep the judges mentoring the groups,the their power to vote should be gone,and let the tv viewers decide.Straight up,Drew did NOT deserve to be booted.
@Alice: Simon planned all along to send the best singer home (Melanie) so that he could have this big drama in the show. He did the same thing in the British X Factor. It was a farce, and Melanie had to go through the sadness thinking she was being sent home (or maybe she was spared and told to act, I don't know). All I know was that it was planned.
I meant, LA will vote for Drew who isn't his boy..argh!
This is why the set up for X Factor doesn't work at all. LA will vote for "his boy," Nicole will vote for the one who is the MOST competition for "her boy, Josh," who without a doubt is Drew, and Paula, could have been fair with these two as she was with her two groups and let America decide, but she wasn't, so the best singer went home. This is the biggest problem with having the judges be BIASED. America's choice can be tossed aside and the best singer has to go home so a judge's competitor has a better chance! American Idol has it right, and this stupid "high production" show is a total farce.
Simon,I am so sorry you have no support from the other Judges. You are fantastic, and so fair, which unfortunately creates JEALOUSY.Poor Drew was subjected to a Lynch Mob. Paula I hope you are able to sleep nights.Do you really hate Simon that much.You know Marcus is so UNFORGETTABLE AND BORING. Drew good luck to you sweetheart.I will be waiting for your album.
If Simon had of been a bit nicer to Nicole and Paulas performers..Drew would def not be out of the competition. They couldnt wait to have the chance to get at Simon.Drew had the most unique voice of all. Time to choose new judges. Marcus who?? Seriously I cant wait for Drew to make her cd!! Sorry you had to pay the price Drew!!
Drew should not have been the choice to leave the show and I thought that it was based on fan vote, not Judge vote. Anyway, I will buy her album when Simon offers her a deal.
Yes, Drew, you are a gifted singer, and we're truly sorry that Nichole and Paula were ignorant and anti-Simon...sadly, you paid the price. But, God will work this out for good, and you will have a better career than you've ever dreamed of. We'll be watching for your CD's, Drew, and we're praying for you!
Drew was one of the very best original talents no doubt. That L.A, Nicole, and Paula refused to even listen to what the crowd wanted, and just swung a blow at Simon...I am done watching the X-factor. Paula is an idiot, Nicole wella B----, and L A. well I suppose he had to stick with his boy, but I can remember what Drew sang, but Marcus was totally forgetable, and he will be forgotten. Will be looking for your album Drew!
If it wasn't a double elimination, I bet it would have been Marcus and Astro in the bottom 2. Drew is one of my favourites, along with Melanie and Rachel, who are the only reason I'm still going to be watching.