14 DAY TRIAL // Rachel Crow is out of X Factor USA, after the decision for the elimination went to deadlock. While her time on the show will be a cherished memory for her supporters, her departure will also be remembered by many, especially since she had such a hard time coming to terms with it.
Video of the elimination is below – and it more than confirms that allowing young contestants on the show wasn't necessarily such a brilliant idea because not many are prepared for rejection.
Rachel Crow, for those who don't know, is just 13.
The other night, the 4 judges on the panel had to choose between Rachel and Marcus Canty. Each of the four stressed what a difficult decision this was, but none had such a hard time with it as Nicole Scherzinger.
Presented with the choice to send Marcus home or send the decision to deadlock, Nicole opted for the latter, even if that meant saying she wanted to see Rachel go home.
Deadlock means that the judges lose their decision-making power and that the contest plays out according to public votes. In this particular occasion, they were not in favor of the 13-year-old girl.
As host Steve Jones announces the name of the person sent home, Rachel has a brief moment when she doesn't yet realize that everything actually is over for her.
When she does, she simply lets herself drop to the floor and starts wailing, prompting a swift intervention from her mentor Simon Cowell, who steps on the stage and positions himself between Rachel and the camera.
Her mother is by his side in almost an instant, while Rachel is heard crying out, “Mommy, you promised me!”
At the judges table, Nicole is also crying in desperation and appears to be unable to utter a single word even when she too comes to the stage. Perhaps the booing from the audience also prevents her from saying anything.
All this time, Steve doesn't know what to do – and cuts to the footage showing Rachel's time on the show.
After it plays, the girl seems to have regained her composure to a certain extent and is able to thank those who had voted for her until that moment, and who'd made it possible for her to enjoy such a wonderful experience.
“I just love you so much, everybody, for voting for me even though you didn't and thank you for giving me this because without you I am nothing,” she said.
