Katie Waissel has hit back at Simon Cowell after the music mogul addressed claims from former X Factor contestants who are now seeking legal action against him.
The singer, who appeared on the ITV talent show in 2010, has accused Mr Cowell’s company Syco Entertainment of breaching its duty of care during her time on the programme.
Ms Waissel, now 39, announced in 2023 that she had retrained as a lawyer and was pursuing legal proceedings against the firm.
She competed on the popular singing competition, owned by Mr Cowell, alongside One Direction and finished in seventh place.
Katie Waissel was a contestant on the X Factor in 2010
| GETTYSince leaving the show, Ms Waissel has repeatedly claimed her experience “ruined her life” and left her suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
She has alleged she never wanted to take part in The X Factor and felt compelled to do so after Cowell’s company acquired the label she was previously signed to.
The singer has criticised the contracts given to contestants, claiming she was paid just £1 for live shows and describing the arrangement as “manipulation and coercion”.
The row has reignited as Mr Cowell embarks on a press tour following the launch of his new seven-member boyband December 10, also known as D10.
The singer has claimed 'something went wrong' with Liam and fellow singers at the very beginning of their X Factor journey
| PA/GB NEWSThe group was unveiled during the premiere of Cowell’s Netflix docuseries Simon Cowell: The Next Act, released globally on December 10.
In a feature-length interview released on December 18, Cowell appeared on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast hosted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde.
During a tense exchange, Ms Hyde asked Mr Cowell about former contestants “almost unionising”, referencing Ms Waissel’s legal training and her allegations of exploitation.
Mr Cowell replied: “Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, any artist is. The vast majority of people who came on the show made a lot of money and got what they wanted, which was fame.”
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Simon Cowell made the comments on a press tour for his new boyband
| INSTAGRAM/SIMON COWELLHe added: “Did it go exactly the way they wanted? Possibly not. So certain people, yeah, they’ve just got it in for me. There’s nothing I can do about that.”
The music mogul maintained contestants “signed up to what they knew the show was about”.
Ms Waissel swiftly responded on X, accusing media outlets of refusing to publish her “legal right of reply” to Cowell’s comments.
“I refuse to have our voices bought into silence. This stops now,” she wrote.
In a lengthy follow-up statement, Ms Waissel rejected Cowell’s claim that contestants understood what they were signing.
“That is not choice. That is coercion,” she said, alleging performers were not offered independent legal advice.
She claimed to hold extensive documentation, including contracts, internal communications, financial records and correspondence obtained through Subject Access Requests.
Ms Waissel also alleged she reported a sexual assault involving a Syco employee, claiming the individual remained employed despite further allegations emerging later.
Multiple X Factor contestants have called out Mr Cowell for their treatment on and after the show
| GETTYThe singer accused Mr Cowell of dismissing safeguarding concerns as personal attacks and of presiding over a system marked by “absolute power imbalance”.
She publicly invited the music manager to review her evidence in person, stating that any refusal would “speak volumes”.
Ms Waissel is not the only former X Factor contestant to criticise Mr Cowell in recent years.
Several artists have renewed complaints following the launch of December 10 and Cowell’s Netflix series.
In 2025, Cher Lloyd released a song widely interpreted as referencing her experience under Syco, later alleging she was encouraged to leverage relationships with famous male artists to boost her career.
She has also criticised the “extreme control” exerted over her as a teenager.
Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall, who launched a solo career in 2024, has similarly spoken about lasting mental health impacts from her time on the show.
Rebecca Ferguson, runner-up in 2010, has campaigned for stronger protections in the music industry and previously gave evidence to Parliament.
Ms Ferguson said Mr Cowell privately apologised to her but maintained the show operated with a “massive power imbalance”.
X Factor’s first winner Steve Brookstein has also supported calls for accountability, backing Waissel’s demands for transparency.
The debate intensified following the death of Liam Payne in October 2024.
Before his passing, Mr Payne had spoken openly about the pressures of fame and later chose not to sign with Syco for his solo career.
Ms Waissel has argued his death is a “painful reminder of systemic neglect” within the industry.
She has called for an immediate investigation into Syco Entertainment for alleged negligence and breach of duty of care.