A petition set up by the family of axed X Factor contestant Samantha Atkinson to get controversial rapper Honey G booted off the show has already notched up over 8,000 signatures.
Fans of the show were left reeling after Sharon Osbourne chose to put Honey G - the 'North Weezy' rapper - through to the live shows at the expense of better singers in her category including Irish contestant Janet Grogan.
Now a cousin of one of those contestants, pub landlady Samantha Atkinson, has launched an online petition for the 32 year old to be reinstated amid claims that she was "robbed" of a place.
Launching the petition, her cousin Yasemin wrote that: “Samantha Atkinson is my cousin and I and thousands of other X Factor viewers feel she was robbed of her place on live shows tonight, when Sharon Osbourne gave Honey G one of them places in final 12.
“Let’s sign and show X factor bosses and ITV that they have made a huge mistake!!!”
Honey G, who is in the Over-25s Category, has sparked speculation that she is not genuine and may in fact be a comic creation due to quirky dance moves, outfits and Ali-G attempts at street slang.
During her first room audition, Simon Cowell refused to support her saying: "You shouldn't be doing that!". Please, please just end this." She also failed to make it through to judges houses but was a late addition after singer Ivy Grace, who has had to pull out of the competition.
Afterwards Honey G, who's real name is Anna Georgette Gilford and runs a recruitment firm, responded in true modest style saying "I'm not just belting out an amazing voice; I am what is happening right now in the music scene. I'm the whole shebang."
Her inclusion in the live shows has led to outrage from fans of the show who have claimed that it's all a fix while many more say they will now boycott The X Factor following her selection and that of other novelty act Octavia and Bradley.
Caught up on #xfactor news. Seriously @MrsSOsbourne ? Honey G but not @JanetGrogan ? We all get the novelty factor but that is ludicrous.
— Maïa Dunphy (@MaiaDunphy) October 4, 2016
V clever television to get us all talking about Honey G. BUT if she isn't a comic creation I'm not sure it's right. Am I missing something?
— Miranda Hart (@mermhart) October 2, 2016
So I think we all know #XFactor is a fix now that honey g is in the live shows
— Bacon (@iAmBacon_) October 2, 2016
Honey G is obviously trolling everyone
— Holly Charles (@HollyCharles1) October 4, 2016
