Cheryl Cole In Crisis

Is she or isn't she? That's been the question today. The best evidence has come from a Dallas Fox affiliate that stated Nicole Scherzinger was on the panel, not Cheryl Cole. Additional reports also confirm that Cheryl is already back in the UK and hiding away from the limelight. Fox, Simon Cowell, producers, fellow judges, host and all of The X Factor US Team have been completely mum on the subject. But - it doesn't look good.


This isn't the first time this has happened. Louis Walsh was fired on the original UK X Factor and brought back weeks later. In the meantime, choreographer Brian Friedman filled in for him. So far, the US support for Cheryl has been big and it is surprising that they would indeed make the decision to fire her. 


As far as the accent goes, Steve Jones's accent is virtually unintelligible so this makes the reports of Cheryl's accent problems seem to have no credibility.


Cheryl's also away from home a lot, so the homesick theory is also garbage.


There is of course one big possibility - a giant misunderstanding or publicity stunt. I hope this is true, because if it isn't this makes Simon, Fox, and the X Factor look very bad. No one is saying Nicole isn't a capable judge, but it's pretty cruel treatment to Cheryl. 


I hope the whole thing is false, I think fans of Simon & Paula will love the banter between Simon & Cheryl - plus, Cheryl is always sober!


Celebrities weighing in:


Actor/Comedian Russell Brand: "Our Cheryl? That cannae be right! Our Cheryl, kicked off X Factor? What, the American one? And I've come to this country in good faith and they've kicked Cheryl off, our Cheryl? Oh no! She's Britain's sweetheart. Is that what they don't understand - the accent? Just listen more, just listen very intently. All them things she's saying - that's English."


Comedian Al Murray: "That's not the special relationship, is it? Dumping our Cheryl, dumping the nation's sweetheart. Mind you, that hair...it's bonkers, look at it!"


Singer/Simon Confidant Sinitta: "Who said she's been axed? Has anyone heard Simon say she's been fired? All the reports that I've heard had said that she's doing really well on the show. Being a judge on one of these shows is like being in Dynasty. Who gets to sit next to Simon? The girls are fighting over him. The horse's mouth did not tell me she was sacked. Someone's taken something and run with it. Maybe her mum needs to fly over to America. People are freaking out and cussing out on Twitter. I say hang on just a minute. Simon is back in the UK and shortly any minute now, hopefully, we will know more. That [a PR stunt] would be really mean and I don't think he would do that. He's been helping her a lot and she's been great for the show. They are so close. So close."


TV personality Piers Morgan: "Just arrived in LA and hearing that Cheryl Cole is OFF the X Factor in America. Wow."


Interestingly enough those in Cole's career including mentor/manager Will.I.Am, past X-Factor contestants, and fellow Girls Aloud members are not commenting. Even Cheryl's mum has been silent. It doesn't look good folks.