Louis Tomlinson unleashes fresh attack on ITV X Factor as he calls out 'powerful' show: 'Unethical!'

"It's the power of those shows, The X Factor and stuff, they are unethical at times," Mr Tomlinson told The Sun. "I'm sure if we reflect on those shows, we could do better by the contestants."

However, the Doncaster-born artist acknowledged the platform transformed his life.

He added: "But it is also one of these things that gives a lot of opportunity. Like I would never have been a singer if it wasn't for that show. It is as simple as that."

Mr Tomlinson is far from alone in voicing concerns about the Simon Cowell-created series, which ran for 15 seasons between 2004 and 2018.

Christopher Maloney, who came third in the 2012 competition, has spoken about the alleged absence of aftercare once filming concluded.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the singer revealed he suffered a breakdown following his sudden transition from ordinary employment to appearing before 15 million viewers.

He said: "I did have a breakdown. That was probably because of the fact that when you are catapulted from being in a regular nine-to-five job and being catapulted into the spotlight on a show that's got 15 million viewers, you don't know what you're doing, it's mind-blowing.

"I think for me extra support would have been nice," Mr Maloney added. "Like when you come off the show, you're left to your own devices. That's it. You're on your own."

Fleur East, who finished as runner-up in 2014, has expressed similar frustrations about her post-show experience.

The singer has previously stated that participation in the competition should "come with a warning" for young performers about the potential downsides of sudden fame.

Ms East felt she was "put on a shelf" by Mr Cowell's company Syco after releasing just one album, describing a lack of support once the cameras stopped rolling.

Elsewhere, Irish pop duo Jedward have similarly launched a scathing attack on Mr Cowell.

The pair described him as viewing himself as the "mafia leader" of the music industry.

They also expressed regret at not telling the judges to "f*** off" during their time on the programme.

Cher Lloyd, who competed alongside Mr Tomlinson in 2010 when she was just 17, accused show bosses of exploiting her youth and inexperience, claiming she was "sold a dream" before being taken advantage of.

Rebecca Ferguson, another 2010 competitor, has criticised what she termed the "exploitation and profiteering of young stars" and stated that "many of us are still living with the aftermath and the PTSD".

The death of Mr Tomlinson's former bandmate, Liam Payne, in October 2024, when he fell from a Buenos Aires hotel room following years of public struggles with substance abuse, intensified scrutiny of the show's legacy.

Katie Waissel, who auditioned alongside Payne in 2010, directly named Mr Cowell in statements accusing music industry figures of prioritising "profits rather than people".

In her tribute to Mr Payne, she wrote of "systemic neglect" in the industry and claimed those responsible for young artists' welfare had failed in their duty of care.

Mr Cowell addressed questions about Mr Payne's struggles in a New York Times interview, acknowledging he was aware "a little bit" of the singer's difficulties and had offered private advice.

He conceded that relationships between label bosses and artists are "complicated", particularly when dealing with performers who were signed as teenagers.

Not all contestants on Mr Cowell's music reality show competitions have been critical of the music manager.

Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever American Idol winner, who worked closely with Mr Cowell, gave a speech at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2018, where she explicitly credited him with "changing her life".

While he has his issues with the show's structure, X Factor star Chico has described recent reports of systemic bullying on the ITV show as 'bewildering'.

He told GB News: "I’ve got nothing to complain about in any way, shape or form because we were looked after by our own mentors who gave us songs we all had to agree on."

Furthermore, while Jade Thirlwall has admitted to personal mental health struggles following the show, the Little Mix star remains publicly conflicted about criticising it because it fundamentally "changed [her] life" and provided her career.

GB News has contacted Mr Cowell for comment.