X-Factor controversy leaves Simon Cowell with warning

According to reports music mogul Simon Cowell has been warned by executives from Fox to avoid any provocative action when the US version of the hit UK talent show The X-Factor (US) begins next year.

The warning came after complaints poured in over provocative performances from two singing sensations, Rihanna and Christina Aguilera, in the finale of the UK competition for this year a couple of weeks ago.

Complaints came flooding in when the steamy performances were aired on prime time TV on the Saturday evening, and the response to the performances has apparently made Fox executives very nervous about something similar happening when the US version of the X-Factor comes to the screens next year.

A source from Fox recently stated: "You can probably get away with a lot more on mainstream TV in the UK. We'd have been flooded with complaints if we had broadcast anything as risqué as you saw in Britain last week."

It is thought that the show will receive huge audiences when it begins in the United States, and American Idol judge Simon Cowell has given up his seat on the judging panel of Idol in order to focus on the new show, which has already been a huge hit in the UK for some years, creating huge stars such as Leona Lewis.

This year's UK winner, Matt Cardle, has already shot to number one, taking the coveted Christmas top spot, just a week after he was crowned the winner of the show following his duet with Rihanna. However, Simon will have the tough job of making sure that celebrities appearing on the show do not cause the same type of controversy as was caused in the UK.