VIDEO: Emotional Drama On X-Factor! Tense Elimination Brings 13 Year Old Contestant To Her Knees In Tears

It’s one of the few TV talent competitions to pit grown ups against kids. Now the controversial, emotional ouster of 13 year old X Factor contestant Rachel Crow has everyone talking. Was it fair? And is all this pressure too much for a kid to handle? (Watch the video and vote below on whether you think this was fair!) 

Tensions are high for Judge Nicole Scherzinger and contestant Rachel Crow.

The tension on X-Factor, was palpable Thursday night, as Rachel Crow, a 13 year old powerhouse and TV darling who has been a standout on the show, and was poised to proceed in the competition.

But as things go on eliminations shows, the stakes get higher, and it came down to a decision to see which person would move on… Crow or competitor Marcus Canty. The power was in the hands of the judges, and as LA Reid voted for Canty, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul voted in support of Crow, leaving former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger in a tough position. A vote for Crow would mean she was in a sense the deciding vote for Canty’s departure. So, she tearfully said that she would prefer the viewer votes to determine the winner. She supported Canty to create a deadlock tie- which put it in viewers hands.

The surprising revelation ended up sending Crow home, leaving the audience and judging panel stunned. And Crow absolutely devastated. Her disappointment would unfold in a dramatic way, right on stage.

Regardless of who should or should not stay – the tension created by the announcement was palpable… and few were prepared for 13 year old Crow’s devastation at the results. The video below shows the painful moment when she first processed the information that she was eliminated… broke down in tears, and fell to her knees onstage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbWBrlT1NBA&feature=player_embedded

After she was able to calm down, host Steve Jones asked Scherzinger, who was devastated and also in tears, if she wanted to say anything. (The crowd booed her and heckled her as she stood speechless, and turned away. (this moment is also in the video below.)

 The internet world came down hard on Nicole Scherzinger, and while you can debate the merit of her choice, ultimately, these are the risks of competition in the world of reality tv. Crow has still gained tremendous exposure, and will garner even more after this emotional incident. We can only hope that this spells opportunity for her.

The ‘this is awkward’ award goes to Marcus Canty, who probably wishes he didn’t have to celebrate his advancement under the cloud of emotion and outrage surrounding the results. But again, isn’t that showbiz?

There’s little denying that show business is tough. It’s rife with a consistent onslaught of rejection that few people could withstand. Some even believe that the people that do ‘make it’ are simply the ones that withstand the rejection the longest. Honestly – sometimes being in Hollywood is just like gambling – but with headshots.

But reality competition television has changed the playing field. In reality TV, everyday people can become overnight sensations… household names (at least for a while) by virtue of one great performance. What can follow is a seemingly unstoppable ascent into a world of praise and attention. Until it stops.

You do have to wonder if the kids should be separated from the grown ups. Then again, Hollywood stardom lies at the end of a rocky road. You have to buckle up and get ready for some hard driving.

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What do you think of the decision??