Dannii, Danyl and instant X-Factor feedback
danni minogue x-factor judge
Dannii Minogue, an X-Factor judge, lost her mind for a minute. Twitter and the social web went wild. Could the speed of this feedback help Simon Cowell and his team define the appropriate response?
A few million people tuned into X-Factor this evening. It was set to be just another night for the long-running, highly repetitive singing contest. But Dannii Minogue, one of the judges may have changed all that. In a lapse of judgement Dannii brought up Danyl Johnson’s sexuality when she was meant to be commenting on his performance.
I’m not about to join the debate on what she did or didn’t do by bringing this up. I suspect she meant no malice and it was merely a stupid error. What I found interesting was the speed at which I found myself reaching for Twitter to gauge the public’s reaction. And clearly thousands of other people did the same thing.
Dannii Minogue immediately became a trending topic on Twitter. In fact so did Dani and Danni and Danii. The debate kicked off:
- “MAJOR gay insult said by danni minouge [sic]. everyones talking in the uk. bad move dani.”@PerezHilton
- “I think she made a very pro-gay comment” @antonycotton
- “Dannii did NOT out Danyl. He did it himself weeks ago in the News of the World!”@DanWooton
- “Nobody should care what Dannii said!!”@AlecLamb”
- “Time to start a get-Dannii-out campaign. You with me?”@lutra_lismo
- “Dannii did nothing wrong. People are blowing this way out of proportion” @Miss_KimberlyJ
Within minutes there were videos up on YouTube. Not just a clip from the show but also people posting their own video responses . Bullying.co.uk posted a blog about it, The official X-Factor Twitter stream had retweeted it and people started to make up stories [as far as I can tell] about her almost getting sacked.
With my researcher hat on, this is fascinating. This slip has the potential to create another Shilpa Shetty scandal. That happened only 18 months ago however in the interveening time the adoption and use of Twitter has rocketed. As a result Simon Cowell and his team are able to gauge the mood of the audience before the night is out. They can then take the appropriate action based on some great insight.
That’s exactly what didn’t happen 18 months ago. Channel4 didn’t feel how angry people were and reacted too slowly. I suspect a bit of Twitter power will see Dannii making an apology in the near future and the whole thing blowing over within no time at all.
You may even be able to watch for Danni’s response by following her on Twitter: @danniiminogue
You can see her comment on the YouTube video below. From 2:50 mins.
PS I’d love to hear your comments. But please try to keep them to the media/social media reaction rather than the rights and wrongs of what she said.
Adrian:
I can’t help feel it’s an orchestrated campaign to get X Factor controversy in a week when Strictly Come Dancing (its big rival) has had controversy.
11 October 2009, 1:04 ampaul:
Danni did not make an homophobic comment , simon new what the rumours about danyl were when he got him to sing that song, he got him to sing the song that way for fear of backlash , Danni was just pointing out that he should have sung the song has it was written , if anyone should get a slap on the wrist for this its simon!
11 October 2009, 8:26 amGemma:
I don’t disagree, her comments were not homophobic and it doesn’t seem like she was trying to be malicious. However, X Factor is a family show, and Danyl is a teacher whose students and their parents had no doubt tuned in to watch his performance. The subject of his sexuality should not be up for discussion at that time and it was just so very strange that she thought to do that. The tone in Dannii’s voice was questioning him, as though she was trying to get him to confirm or deny his sexual orientation, which I think it frankly innapropriate.
On the social media front, I think it will be interesting to see the speed at which things progress from today, and how it will affect scandals in the future, will we even need newspapers anymore?
11 October 2009, 9:48 amPaul R:
Danni, was out of line to mention Danyl’s sexuality as if it somehow detracted from his performance! It was lame and showed her up to be a celebrity only in name and nothing else. Shame on you Danni, you are in a position where people look up to you, but you are obviously not up to the job of setting a positive example.
11 October 2009, 11:55 amLaura:
Well it seems what she said went down like a lead balloon with the audience… and before the social media revolution it would probably have been commented on in newspapers and radio stations and perhaps been sensationalized and manipulated more…
With articles like this on blogs, and the ability to post youtube links so we can see for ourselves what happened, surely this is just another good example of how easy it is to share content and ideas based more firmly on fact…
On the other hand, are we perhaps seeing that with the ability to communicate every little thought and reaction that things get blown out of proportion??
Thanks for an excellently written and thought-provoking post Fresh Networks….
11 October 2009, 12:26 pmJo:
It may even have been a deliberate ITV spin to stop any further gossip in the press re Danyl. If this is the case, Dannii is now set up to take the fall.
I imagine, a little like a puppet show, that we will see a public apology TONIGHT on the live show with a massive demonstration of mutual love between Dannii and Danyl. Outcome? Increased viewing for X Factor; increased discussion in twitter for X Factor; increased Facebook coverage for X Factor. Suddenly, it is the most talked about TV show on all media and social media networks as well as the printed media.
Smart move.
11 October 2009, 12:42 pmJon:
Dannii should not have mentioned his sexuality, but changing the lyrics is more institutionally homophobic and Dannii, misguided though it was, was encouraging him to be himself and not change the words as Simon forced Will Young to do.
AND WHY DID SHE MENTION IT??? Listen to the clip on YouTube!!!! Someone shouts out, at the start of the performance. HE IS GAY – HE IS F-ING GAY.
Dannii was foolish and unprofessional but trying to support him. Let’s not villify her, she is not the issue here. If someone talks about sexuality, it doesn’t make them homophobic, even if it was uneccessary to do so.
11 October 2009, 1:12 pmAri Herzog:
From the backdrop that I don’t watch this show, don’t know the players, and until now, have not heard of this quote-unquote scandal, I fail to grasp why you’re questioning the feedback.
The key in my mind is people are using real-time applications to stream their life thoughts. Socialization is secondary to broadcast. Mary Citizen is analogous to the mainstream media, and if more people retweet etc Mary, she becomes mainstream, aka a trend.
11 October 2009, 2:52 pmcharlee:
sexuality has nothing to do with talent, danii.
11 October 2009, 3:25 pmJen:
It seemed out of the blue to me, even if somebody did scream out at the beginning. All of the judges seemed inappropriate with Danyl’s comments. They skimmed over the fact that his performance was in a completely different league from any of the performers last night and then gave negative feedback. Danyl’s pupils and family would have been watching that show and it was out of line for her to mention something so private and to put him on the spot like that.
11 October 2009, 3:40 pmI felt Cheryl and Dannii were completely out of line tonight the whole time. For both of them to comment on Kandy Rain’s outfits considering what they wear on their shows. It doesn’t matter if they are established or not. Pop music is about selling sex now and those girls clearly were. To be nit picking like that is not appropriate. It is a talent competition is it not? And it should not be a competition between the judges, it is about the performers. It doesn’t matter how much time and effort you put into your group, if they don’t have the talent, you aren’t going to give them it.
Lynn Atherton:
Shame on you Danni. You are there to judge his performance not his sexuality. His performance was truly outstanding but you have taken away from that with you tactless comment. What was probably the most exciting night of his life was ruimed by a stupid remark, you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.
11 October 2009, 5:12 pmRay:
It’s just that everything she said had nothing to do with here role as a judge. How is he to take that comment and become a better artist from it? I don’t understand why she would talk about something that has nothing to do with his performance. He should trust on Simon as his mentor the others are only afraid as he and Jamie and Olly are very strong contesters. Throwing mud will only get her hands dirty in the end i think.
11 October 2009, 5:46 pmCharlie Osmond:
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your comments. There appears to be some concesus on the rights and wrongs.
@Ari,
I wan’t questioning the feedback, I was trying to make the same point as you (but clearly didn’t do it so well).
You’re spot on. In a short space of time (18months) we’ve gone from mainstream media-led reactions to a world where the citizen can lead. And at the same time companies (and in this case the show) have gained an ability to assess citizen opinion far more effectively in much less time.
Social Media is an awesome tool for insight.
11 October 2009, 11:07 pmjanette:
danni comment was extremely unprofessional and for simon to back her on tonights programme has left me disappointed.
11 October 2009, 11:53 pmwhen did the x factor become something other than a talent show ok we know everyone is fighting for top ratings but it is still a programme that people watch with their children.
danyl has done nothing to incur the wrath of the judges and a little more professionalism from danni louie and cheryl is expected if you want people to continue watching i suggest back to the basics and discuss their talent not their sexual orientation or anything not related to the context of the programme.
April:
I am writing about X-Factors live performance that I saw on You Tube today.
I am very concerned that the two women judges Danni and Cheryl are making moralistic judgments about the girl singer act Ms. Frank and the one women judge Dani inappropriately brought up one of the male singers Danyl Johnson’ bi-sexuality after he sang a wonderful song from the Dream Girls score. Dani was supposed to comment on his Danyl Johnson’s performance no make a big deal out of what she heard in the newspapers about the man’s bisexuality. What is the big deal? She was shaming him and making him wrong. It was very hetero-sexist and homophobic and has no place in this competition. There is a wide axis of different loving beyond the heterosexual format.
Those moralistic comments were inappropriate and discriminatory – plus it comes off as racist. Who cares who one has slept with or is loving in their lives (consenting adults of course). What does that have to do with their singing? The two women judges are swaying the audience with their moralist and bigoted Puritanical opinions. This is not cool. What a sticky wicket they have started here. They owe them an apology and also they need to stop moralizing to the contestants. Stick to judging what is important, singer and they stage presence etc. I just saw a a video blogg of Danni and her popping cleavege is over the top in the dress she had on. So who is she to preach to people. Cover up your clevege
Sincerely,
12 October 2009, 12:42 amApril
USA
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12 October 2009, 12:48 amHoover:
I’m glad I’m not a marketer.
I would hate to feel obliged to be even interested in what Danii Minogue said on TV last night.
A Marketer’s Nightmare, by Charles Dickens: Once upon a time, a marketer devised an amazing tool that would give him instant knowledge of customer insights.
Washing powder, cars, music… you name it – he had the power to understand what people were thinking and advise his clients accordingly.
But then he discovered the awful truth. People weren’t thinking very interesting things. Far from unlocking fascinating insights, his new technique had condemned him to a lifetime of analysing dull, repetitive, shallow thoughts. It was like counting grains of sand on the beach.
One night a bloke resembling Marley Scrooge appeared in the marketer’s front room. “Oh, you fool,” breathed the apparition. “You could have been creating things, helping people collaborate to improve their lives, or using your intelligence to solve real problems. But no! You’ve chosen to get involved in social media.”
“Get lost, Scrooge” said the marketer. “I have a three hour presentation on viral Tweeting to prepare for tomorrow. I’ve got some amazing insights I need to share with the client – stuff that’ll blow his mind.”
But even as he spoke, he was assailed by obscure doubts. They gathered round him like forest shadows, until he could barely see his graph showing exponential Twitter use in Eastern Europe.
And from the shadows appeared tweets, seemingly as real as if they were solid forms. More and more they emerged from the gloom. “I’m a great customer insight”, each one chirupped. Until he was consumed by tweets and breathed his last.
The End.
Un film de Hoover.
12 October 2009, 9:02 amjan:
From what i see, i think the comment through him for a minute or so, you could see it on his face still thinking about it…but i think he just wants Simon’s approval and does not want to let Simon down. All was forgotten i am sure after Simon complimented his performance which was great….
12 October 2009, 11:52 amSocial Media Impacting Accountability on TV | Impact Marketing Zone:
[...] Fresh network reported [...]
15 October 2009, 6:40 ammargasretbiller:
was his number ending
18 October 2009, 6:55 pm01?
Rich:
Danni’s comment towards Danyl sexuality was a cheap shot and an attack which surprised me considering the gay community have supportd her throughout her career. Whether she will continue to have the support from her gay fans is to been seen. It was obvious Danyl was upset by her comment.The poor apology the following day wasn’t strong enough to hold any authenticity, yet to cover up a desparate Danni to be witnessed as homophobic.
19 October 2009, 9:30 pm.
Rich:
Danni, had no right to OUT someone.
19 October 2009, 9:52 pmIt is their right and privacy as to when they choose to.
You took their choice away!
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1 November 2009, 12:40 amHelene:
Who on earth could not vote John and Edward out of the X-factor…… oh, sorry I know Simon Cowell can and furthermore, he has gone deaf!
10 November 2009, 6:50 pmHTS:
this could be a nice song for Daniel Johnson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0_m-4NAec
15 November 2009, 8:35 pmHTS:
this copuld be a nice song for Daniel Johnson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0_m-4NAec
15 November 2009, 8:36 pm