X Factor judges blast show

The British talent show ‘X Factor’ has translated successfully to Denmark, but in an unusual step, two of the main judges have said they feel the show is too manipulative.

As the second season of the Danish version of ‘X Factor’ kicks off, both Lina Rafn and Thomas Blachman from the judging panel have blasted the editing of the show for painting both them and the contestants in a false light.

Lina Rafn is better known as the female vocalist from best-selling pop group Infernal and composer Thomas Blachman is the straight-talking self-styled nasty judge on the panel.

Rafn complained to Ekstra Bladet newspaper that the editing of the show by producers Blu Productions and public broadcaster DR has depicted her as an eternal cry-baby after one clip of her crying was edited into other episodes repeatedly.

Rafn also took issue with the later addition of a music soundtrack to contestants audition songs, which made them appear to be singing out of tune.

‘They appeared to be singing out of tune, even though that wasn’t the case. It’s cheating. I agreed to appear on the show, because I thought DR had a different approach to ethics than other television stations, but this has been an annoying and incomprehensible experience,’ said Rafn.

Her judging colleague Blachman said the producers of the second season of the show were creating ‘emotional porn’ by asking contestants about their experiences with cancer and being abandoned by their fathers.

Blachman said he was looking forward to the live shows, which begin airing this Friday, as he will be able to speak freely without ‘being edited to pieces’.

Entertainment editor for DR, Jan Lagermand Lundme, said that he was always happy to accept the criticism of the judges, but that entertainment shows are about using effects, music and editing to underline the emotional aspect that is already provided by the contestants.

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