After some very harsh comments towards a contestant after his performance on Sunday, "X Factor New Zealand" judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon were fired and will no longer sit on the panel for the show.

The contestant, Joe Irvine, sang Michael Buble's "Cry Me a River". While Irvine admitted that his performance wasn't the best, Kills and Moon did not critique his singing, but rather his appearance as Irvine dressed a lot like Moon.

Kills, also Moon's wife, said to Irvine, "I personally found it absolutely artistically atrocious. I am embarrassed to be sitting here in your presence having to even dignify you with an answer of my opinion."

Moon added, "It's like Norman Bates dressing up in his mother's clothing. It's just a little bit creepy, and I feel like you're going to stitch someone's skin to your face and then kill everyone in the audience."

Outraged audience members booed at the two's bitter statements while fellow judges Melanie Blatt and Stan Walker looked very angry at the two for them practically bullying Irvine's appearance rather than his actual performance.

"While the judges on X Factor are expected to provide critiques of the performances, we will not tolerate such destructive tirades from any of the judges," said Mark Weldon, MediaWorks chief executive, "Contestants put their all into this competition and they should expect to receive feedback and criticism that is professional and constructive."

Meanwhile, support for Irvine and his dream have been pouring from celebrities and fans alike. The aspiring singer received cupcakes from pop idol Lorde and a handwritten note saying that Irvine was not in the wrong for what he wore on the show. Singers Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding also gave their support by encouraging Irvine to keep pursuing his dream via Twitter.

Kills and Moon were fired immediately and the two have reportedly fled from the media, flying out of the country for a while.