The musicians, who married last year (14), hurled insults at wannabe singer Joe Irvine following his performance on Sunday night's (15Mar15) live show, accusing him of copying Moon's style.

British singer Kills said, "I am disgusted at how much you have copied my husband, from the hair to the suit, do you not have any value or respect for originality? You're a laughing stock, it's cheesy, it's disgusting... I am embarrassed to be sitting here, in your presence, to even have to dignify you with an answer of my opinion..."

New Zealand singer Moon called the performance "cheap and absurd" before comparing Irvine to movie psychopaths Norman Bates and Hannibal Lecter, saying, "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 everybody in the audience".

The audience booed the couple as fellow judges Stan Walker and former All Saints star Melanie Blatt tried to intervene.

Following a major backlash on social media, bosses at Mediaworks, the company behind the show, have now sacked them both and they were absent from the live show on Monday (16Mar15).

MediaWorks Chief Executive Mark Weldon says, "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... 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."

Blatt took to Twitter.com to blast the pair following the drama, writing, "Ive (sic) tried to keep my cool and stay professional but really @nataliakills? Sorry love, you're a t**t."

Show bosses are now searching for replacement judges.