Simon Cowell - Cowell & Minogue Clash On Live Tv

SIMON COWELL clashed with his fellow X FACTOR judge DANNII MINOGUE on Saturday night (10Oct09) after the Australian singer fuelled gossip about a contestant's sexuality.

Danyl Johnson, who has been hit by a string of recent rumours he is bisexual, performed a version of Jennifer Hudson's I'm Telling You in front of the judging panel on the British talent show, changing the lyrics to make the song relevant for a male singer.

But Minogue stunned TV viewers and the studio audience after he had finished by quipping, "If we're to believe what we read in the papers, there was no need to switch the gender reference in the song."

The singer's comments sparked outrage amongst her fellow judges, including show creator Cowell who criticised her live on air.

He told Minogue, "What did you say? I'm not having you play games with him. He's a good guy. He deserves a break."

Bosses at the show have been flooded with complaints since the incident, with many viewers calling for Minogue to be sacked from her role as a judge.