Lorde sends bullied X Factor NZ contestant cupcakes

Lorde has sent humiliated X Factor NZ contestant Joe Irvine a ‘pick me up’ after what has undoubtedly been a stressful week.

She sent him some cupcakes and a note:

Hi Joe,

Just wanted to say: your individuality, positive energy & spirit are infectious! I think you’re doing an awesom [sic] job on the show so far. I’m a performer too, & I wanted to say that no matter how many people make fun of me for how I dress, move & act, I’m being me — and that’s what’s important.

Good luck & lots of love,

Lorde

Meantime as the sacked judges Natalia Kills and Willy Moon slunk out of New Zealand with Kills insisting she stood by her comments, the fall-out continues for X Factor NZ.

The show will not get any taxpayer funding next year, the Government-run funding body NZ On Air announced yesterday. It paid Mediaworks, parent company of TV3 which screens the show, $1.6 million last year and $800,000 this year.

NZ On Air confirmed that the money, given to the production of the show as part of its brief to feature more NZ talent on air, would not be used as a pay-out for the two disgraced judges.