It’s been a long time coming, but Cheryl’s comeback performance on Sunday night’s X Factor divided viewers – with many labeling it “awful,” “awkward,” and even “painful.”
The singer performed her new single Love Made Me Do It in front of her old boss, Simon Cowell, as well as his new judging panel, Ayda Field, Nile Rodgers – and her ex-boyfriend Liam Payne’s old bandmate, Louis Tomlinson.
https://twitter.com/TheXFactor/status/1064263831403327495
But fans watching at home were not impressed, with many moaning: “Watching Cheryl Cole perform on XFactor is actually painful, wowww 🤦🏼♀️.”
One viewer wrote: “If Cheryl was auditioning for this show she wouldn’t get through lmao #xfactor.”
Another winced: “Cheryl please just stop this is just cringe and you can’t sing! #TheXFactor.”
A fourth tweeted: “Cheryl made me do it (turn the [bleeping] X Factor off cos she’s [bleep]).”
Even Strictly star James Jordan waded into the conversation, tweeting: “Cheryl is beautiful but I don’t actually know what to think about that performance on XFactor.”
Cheryl is beautiful but I don’t actually know what to think about that performance on XFactor
Any thoughts tweeps?#XFactor
— James Jordan (@The_JamesJordan) November 18, 2018
Others mocked the “sexy” move where Cheryl bizarrely licked her wrist, with one laughing: “Cheryl is me when I’m making a sandwich and get Nutella on my wrist #XFactor.”
Another added: “Why did Cheryl just lick her hand #XFactor,” while another said: “Anyone else wonder why Cheryl just licked her hand 👀😂 #XFactor.”
Fans even criticised the chat afterwards with presenter Dermot O’Leary, where he asked Cheryl, 35, if she missed Simon, and she replied: “Am I what? Missing Simon? No.”
One tweeted: “Oh Cheryl … that interview was like that moment you see your ex’s friend and you want to come across chilled … and fail badly. So awkward #XFactor.”
https://twitter.com/chels_bain/status/1064256428679053312
But a few defended the mum-of-one.
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A fan tweeted: “Omg first performance since the baby and live .. not miming and a full dance routine!! she [bleeping] smashed it. Wow @CherylOfficial !!!! SHES BACK 💕.”
Another added: “YES LIVE VOCALS. @CherylOfficial is basically for everyone who loves a PROPER pop star. If you don’t like it, go watch a band. KILLED IT 🔥 #XFACTOR.”
A third complained: “Cheryl really can’t win can she? She sings over a pre-recorded track and she’s slated for miming, she sings completely live and gets slated because her vocals aren’t 10/10.”
Read more: X Factor’s Anthony Russell apologises after “lewd texts” to young mum
Whether the vocals were painful or not, we enjoyed Cheryl’s return to The X Factor no end. Well done that Geordie.
What did you think of Cheryl’s performance? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.