‘The X Factor’ UK champ James Arthur slams post-show creative process, ‘puppet’ mentality

Strangely, there was a part of us that saw this coming a mile away: James Arthur expressing his displeasure with “The X Factor” UK over a year after winning the show over some of its various limitations. He was the sort of guy who surprised us by trying out to begin with, so it’s therefore hard for him to then turn around and surprise us again by not being altogether thrilled that the music he wants to make is not being made.

Before we say too much else, let’s just start by giving you James’ reported comments to the Polish TV show “Interia”:

“I have people telling me what I can and can’t do, what music I can and can’t make. People who aren’t artists don’t think about creativity and art, they think about money. When you find fame or you get signed to a record label, it’s not what you imagined – because you imagined they would have 100% trust or faith in you as an artist. Unfortunately that’s not really the case – it’s what sells.”

Do we understand why James is being so upset over some of that? Sure, but it’d be so much easier to have sympathy for him if there wasn’t such a track record of him doing controversial stuff out there already. He also said in the interview that male winners of the competition are often made out to be “puppets,” and the show really benefits karaoke singers most of the time. He may at least be right about many of the male winners, and the reason why Olly Murs may have been helped so much early on was because he didn’t have the same sort of pressure on him, and could create more of what he wanted to make as a runner-up.

What do you think about Arthur’s comments now about the experience, and do you think that they come from a place of honesty, bitterness, or possibly both? Share your thoughts one way or another below! Also, click here if you are curious in grabbing some extra scoop worth singing about via our CarterMatt Newsletter.

Photo: ITV