The judge asked the question following Felix Shepherd’s performance.
The X Factor hasn’t been on our screens long, but it’s already drawing some criticism after new judge Robbie Williams asked a transgender contestant about their birth name.
Felix Shepherd received a standing ovation from the audience after his rendition All I Want by Kodaline, and said that he was on the singing competition to prove that he was “more than just a transgender guy.”
Related:ย Nicole Scherzinger: X Factor encourages LGBT+ contestants to โcelebrate themselvesโ on the show
However, when it came to judging, Robbie wanted to learn more about Felix. And the first question that Robbie asked him was: “So when you were born, what was your name?”
Felix responded with his birth name, before Robbie asked: “So when did you know you were Felix?”
Although fans of the show were quick to show their support for Felix, many were critical of Williams’s questions.
felt so bad for felix on xfactor last night being asked what his name was before by r*bbie williams tht guy is a right plonker
— ๐๐ (@cryptyceel) September 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/alex_staddon/status/1038519562638172162
Canโt believe @robbiewilliams just asked Felix Shepard his Deadname so Ignorant #XFactorUK
— Rae Smyth (@WeegieWitch_) September 8, 2018
Yes, it is.
Speak to any trans person and they'll tell you the same.
It's also irrelevant information. It benefits precisely nobody to know that information.
Robbie perhaps thought he was showing an interest but if so he misjudged it.
— ๐๐ โจ ๐๐ช๐ค๐๐๐ โจ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ (@MeMyselfOnline) September 8, 2018
Catching up with #XFactor
Go Felix what amazing talent ๐๐๐ #felix— Jules Michele ๐ฌ๐ง๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟโ๐โ๏ธ (@wanderlust8185) September 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/dewymlm/status/1038720379504746496
Others defended Robbie’s questions, with some pointing out that Felix was fine to answer them.
Responding to the reaction to Robbie’s question after the episode aired on television, Felix said he wasn’t “offended” by it, and thanked fans for their support.
I just wanted to say that I was in no way offended by Robbieโs question but, I do realise everyone is different!
Thanks for all the support ๐— Felix (@itisfelixx) September 9, 2018
Felix got through to the next round on The X Factor with Simon Cowell saying: “Felix, you didnโt get four yeses. You got 5,000 yeses.”
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