Controversy Erupts As X Factor Malta Airs Singer Fainting During Audition
A debate on broadcasting ethics has arisen following a eyebrow-raising moment on X Factor Malta last night, in which a contestant fainted during his audition.
Nathan Psaila, 16, dropped to the floor right before singing his second song and had to be taken to a polyclinic. X Factor showed the moment he fainted and judges Howard Keith Debono and Ivan Grech rushed to help him, complete with ominous background music.
The young singer confidently returned to the stage with a smile on his face.
@xfactormalta NATHAN PSAILA PT2. ❤️ #xfactormalta #thesearchison #xfactorauditions
“It was the first time it happened to me,” he told the judges. “I went to the polyclinic and the doctor told me everything is fine but I just had some low blood pressure. I’m ready to rock the stage.”
And rock the stage he did, winning four yeses for his rendition of Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Bruises’ to send him through to the next round.
Howard Keith even joked that the fainting must have done him well, a comment that drew laughs from his fellow judges and Nathan himself.
However, X Factor faced flak for airing the clip, bearing echos of the heat broadcasters faced for airing Christian Eriksen’s heart attack at Euro 2020.
“Why did you post this part? You made a scene out of Nathan,” one person claimed under X Factor’s video of the audition.
“If it was my brother, rest assured that I’d come over myself and cause chaos by breaking everything in sight,” someone else said.
However, others stood up for the show.
“To those who are making a big deal about it, don’t you think they asked Nathan’s permission before airing it?” one person asked.
Did you watch X Factor last night?
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