TV3 sacks X Factor judges Willy Moon and Natalia Kills for bullying contestant on live TV

TV3 has sacked Natalia Kills and Willy Moon from The X Factor after the husband and wife judges bullied a contestant on live TV last night.

Click HERE to watch the video.

Mediaworks, the owners of TV3, confirmed it had fired Kills and Moon just hours before the pair were due to feature on tonight's live elimination show.

It's understood the media company was under extreme pressure from sponsors to take action against the pair.

In a statement to 3News, Mediaworks chief executive Mark Weldon said: "Last night on X Factor both Kills and Moon made comments that were completely unacceptable.

"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," he said.

"Contestants put their all into this competition and they should expect to receive feedback and criticism that is professional and constructive. We no longer have confidence that Kills and Moon are the right people to perform the role of X Factor judges and they will leave the show, effective immediately."

More to come.

- NZ Herald