Janet X

'Oh my god': Janet Jackson is caught off guard hinting she might be one of X Factor USA's new judges

By Laura Schreffler

Last updated at 9:39 AM on 17th February 2012

Last month's mass X Factor firing left three open spots on the show. If the rumours are true, at least one of those seats will belong to none other than Janet Jackson.

When the 45-year-old pop icon appeared on Anderson Cooper's chat show, Anderson Cooper 360, she only added fuel to the fire as she refused to deny recent reports.

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The silver fox caught Jackson off guard when he pointedly asked her today if she'd been recruited to fill the void left by former judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger.

She stumbled over her words, finally uttering 'Oh my God' before laughing.

She eventually answered: 'No, I'm not a judge on The X Factor.'


The 44-year-old journalist knew he had backed the Escapade singer into a corner.

'You're not currently a judge on The X Factor,' he said pointedly.

Jackson responded carefully: 'No, I am not, but that's all I really think I should say.'

Judge and creator Simon Cowell has finally spoken about the bloodbath at Fox that included the firing of Abdul, his former American Idol colleague.

He told Extra correspondent and ex-girlfriend Terri Seymour: ‘She was fine. I called her that night.

‘She was very gracious and I said that to her. She understands it’s business. It’s never personal.’

He went on to say: ‘I would have liked to have kept her.‘

The 52-year-old also opened up about former Pussy Cat Doll Scherzinger.

He said: ‘I don’t think she’s mad. I think she’s disappointed.’

Cowell didn’t address the removal of Steve Jones, who was brought over from the UK to host the US version of the show.

But he did explain the decision to keep LA Reid, the only judge, other than himself, from the original team. He said: ‘There’s not a record executive out there who is as good as him.’