Tearful 'X Factor' Elimination Cries FAKE (VIDEO)

on December 9, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Last night, 13-year-old Rachel Crow was voted off The X Factor in a move that few -- including Rachel -- expected. When it was announced that she was going home, she collapsed to the ground and started wailing. Simon Cowell rushed up on stage to comfort her, and her mother raced to assure her it would all be okay. "You promise me? You promise me?" Rachel begged her.

It was one of the most dramatic eliminations I've ever seen on a competition show. Take a look for yourself at this scene that has everyone talking.

Shocking and heartbreaking, right? Well, at first glance anyway. But the more I watch it, the more it seems like a purposefully exaggerated reaction at best and big fat rehearsed fake at worst. Sure, anyone would be upset about losing out on a $5 million recording contract, but Rachel's emotions just don't ring true. Plus, check out her cheeks after all of that crying -- dry, dry, dry!

It's not a bad strategy on her part. I mean, why not go out with a memorable bang if you have to go. You get a whole lot more extra sympathy and attention than if you just walk away graciously with a single tear or two. Maybe I'm being cold, but I wasn't feeling her pain at all. Maybe she'd rehearsed it one time too many.

The person I do feel a bit sorry for is judge Nicole Scherzinger, who cast the vote that sent Rachel home. She seemed pretty genuinely distraught both before and after the announcement was made. "Don't cry," Rachel told Nicole before the vote. "It's OK, I'm good with anything."

Clearly she wasn't okay with it though after the fact, and Nicole felt horrible. Unless ... she's just a better actress than Rachel.

Do you think Rachel Crow's reaction to her elimination was fake?

Image via X Factor USA

About the author Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

Filed Under: television, music

Comments (38)

sweetcherry_59

on Dec 9, 2011 at 12:28 AM

Was it a bit overly dramatic? Yes. Do I think it was fake? No. She is a young girl who just had her dreams crushed. If I was in her position I would be beyond upset. Just because she didn't have tears doesn't mean those emotions aren't real.

I think you're just a mean girl who is always looking for the next person you're going to pick apart.

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Facebook comment from Susan Gumlock

on Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 AM

Her cheeks were dry. But I don't think X Factor had anything to do about it. Typical 13 year old.

Nonmember comment from Stephanie

on Dec 9, 2011 at 2:13 AM

Um, no, I don't think her reaction was rehearsed or faked. But I do think you'll be fairly successful in creating controversy and attracting comments. Nice work :P

littlelambe

on Dec 9, 2011 at 2:23 AM

My opinion? I'm sure glad that one clip was the only part I'll ever see of the x factor. Waaaay too much drama. Ugh.

Nonmember comment from Kylee

on Dec 9, 2011 at 3:42 AM

Rachel hasn't been my favorite or my least favorite but after the elimination it just was annoying, she has been acting so confident and strong this whole journey even after she told Nichole it's okay, I'm good with anything...well NOT REALLY! She was way over the top during her elimination really falling to the ground? And it sounded like she was TRYING to cry really loud to make people feel sorry for her. I don't know to me it didn't seem genuine, I thought she would of handled it in a more mature way since she's been acting like she is mature on this show saying she is doing this for all the kids when she is one herself.

Nonmember comment from Emme

on Dec 9, 2011 at 4:59 AM

I'm an overly emotional and overly sympathetic person and, yet, she didn't manage to tug on my heart strings at all. In fact, the only thought scrolling through my head was "what disgusting behavior". I understand she's 13, but it's not like I haven't been 13 before. In her shoes, would I have been supremely upset? Of course. Would I collapse onto the floor and bawl like a child and - admittedly - artificially? Heck no. I would've tried to hold back tears (probably unsuccessfully to a degree) and curse my quivering lip. But I can't say I'm surprised because unlike her, I don't crave the limelight. On the bright side, she could probably have a future in musical theater.

Nonmember comment from India

on Dec 9, 2011 at 7:50 AM

Drew bawled last week as well, but I suppose she was faking it as well. Have a heart! She's a young girl who just had her dreams crushed! Astro got ignorant with everyone he certainly wasn't faking it, yet because she's hysterically bawling, she's overdramatic and faking it, let's see how some of you would act if you lost the thing you've wanted most in the world. If you wanted to conceive and were told it would never happen I suppose you would just bite your lip? Stop picking on a baby, women are so damn nasty. I hope one of you has a dream that gets crushed.

writingafwife

on Dec 9, 2011 at 7:58 AM

can you say Drama Queen?

LilyWillowMom

on Dec 9, 2011 at 8:25 AM

I have been watching X-Factor since the beginning, despite my strong feelings of severe dislike toward Astro.

When Rachel was eliminated, there was one person I didn't feel sorry for -- that was Nicole. She chose not to man up and vote and then acted all crushed and shocked when Rachel was sent home. Do I think Rachel's reaction was fake? Hell no. She's 13, first of all, like so many others have said. Have any of YOU ever cried so hard that no tears fell because the emotions were too strong? That happened to me before. Barely any tears fell because my emotions were convulsing and my body wasn't sure what it wanted to do. Sometimes the tears don't fall. Think of it as a dry heave sob.

I believe Marcus should have gone home, as it was his THIRD TIME IN A ROW in the bottom two. I feel no sympathy AT ALL toward Nicole. She chose not to be a real judge and vote. It's not like it was with Paula when she had to vote between two of her OWN acts. I cheered when Simon and the host guy turned Rachel away from Nicole when she went up to say something to the little girl.

Nonmember comment from guest

on Dec 9, 2011 at 8:54 AM

It seemed "forced" To me when she collapsed... like, she had pre planned what she would do if she was ever eliminated. Like a previous comment stated, this clip was all the x factor I watched, and far too dramatic. Definitely need to raise the age for these shows.