‘The X Factor’ USA: Cheryl Cole lawsuit raises new questions for Simon Cowell

How badly did Simon Cowell botch the judging situation for “The X Factor” USA? Well, let’s just say that it is all but guaranteed now that we are probably not going to be seeing Cheryl Cole turning up again on the British version of the show soon.

According to TMZ, the Girls Aloud singer has filed a lawsuit against Blue Orbit Productions, claiming that she has been stifled out of the $2 million she would have received for the second season of the show along with some other expenses. Cole signed a contract prior to joining the show last year that guaranteed her a salary for the first two seasons, and while she claims that she has received payment for the first year, she has not for the second.

The truth of the matter here is that Cowell would have likely been in better shape now had he kept Cole on the panel rather than firing her over “chemistry” issues (and some fears from American executives about her heavy accent). She would have brought something to the show that is unique to the “X Factor” brand, and she’s also opinionated. Nicole Scherzinger was a complete failure in America as her replacement (though she has been great on the British version of the show), and her eventual replacement in Britney Spears has more or less been akin to a wind-up doll who does not give anything more than what she absolutely has to in order to do her job.

The one hope that “The X Factor” has that Cole could still be a part of the British franchise in the future is that she made a surprise appearance earlier this year to help out Gary Barlow, and she surely knew about the issues going on in America at that time.

What do you think about this suit? If you want to see who on “The X Factor” USA this year is likely to get a record contract after the show, you can find out over here.

Photo: Fox