'The X Factor UK' judge Nicole Scherzinger receives scathing review from own contestant, gets called a 'c---' by James Hughes

On this season of “The X Factor,” returning judge Nicole Scherzinger let go of aspiring singer James Hughes before he could make it on the live show. Now, just after Simon Cowell called Nicole out on her priorities and lack of focus, James is speaking up against his former mentor.

During the show, James was one of the more mellow and cheerful contestants, so his rather harsh criticism of Nicole is coming as quite a shock. In an interview with Now Magazine (via Huffington Post), the 17-year-old revealed that Nicole was not as supportive and generous off screen as she was onscreen. “She’s so nice on camera, but I felt she had no time for me once they were off,” he said. “I don’t even think she picked her final three boys!”

James even went so far as to call her “a c---.” However, viewers of the show will remember that Nicole did not take James to the live rounds because he messed up the lyrics to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

READ: 'X Factor UK': A second look at the final 10 contestants before this week's live shows

Nevertheless, James is not the only individual from “The X Factor” that is not pleased with Nicole. Even her co-judge, Simon, called her out on her priorities and her apparent lack of focus from this week’s episode of the show.

READ: 'X Factor UK': Viewers in disbelief that Honey G made it through to the next round while Freddy Parker got eliminated

Nicole kicked off Diva Week on “The X Factor” stage with her own mashup of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.” While her time on stage was highly praised by the general public, it overshadowed the performances of all the remaining contestants, and Simon was very vocal about it.

"Ryan, it is quite clear -- watching Nicole at the start of the show and her performance -- where her attention went this week because it wasn’t you,” Simon said after Ryan Lawrie’s number.

Some viewers of “The X Factor UK” went to Twitter to express their own disappointment in the 38-year-old “Don’t Hold Your Breath” singer.

“So sick of the #XFactor being the ‘Nicole Scherzinger show.’ Sit down you attention-seeking exhibitionist,” one wrote.