'X Factor' Standoff: Cheryl Cole Told to Apply for U.S. Visa as Drama Continues (Exclusive)

8:30 PM PDT 6/2/2011 by Kim Masters

0
0
0
0
0
Email
Print
Comments

Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images

A Cole source tells THR that Fremantle is trying to avoid paying the British pop star, who was dropped as a judge on Simon Cowell's singing competition after only four days.

British pop star Cheryl Cole and the producers of the U.S. version of The X Factor appear to be in a standoff after her abrupt but unofficial dismissal from the show.

Though Cole was dropped as a judge after only four days for reasons that remain unclear, a source close to Cole says Fremantle apparently is trying to avoid breaching her contract. “They don’t want to pay her,” this insider alleges. “It’s a chess match.”

According to this source, Fremantle has not fired Cole and in fact took steps Thursday that will require her to appear shortly at the U.S. consulate in London to apply for a visa so she can perform as a judge. Fremantle executives could not be reached for comment.

Apparently Cole intends to apply for the visa.

The Cole insider says the singer would like to be paid for the work she was contracted to do “as a matter of principle. ... She moved her whole life to Los Angeles.” Cole bought a house in Los Angeles expecting to serve as a judge on the show.

According to the source, Cole's team believes Simon Cowell was behind her dismissal and says Cowell apparently expected that Cole would willingly return to the British version of the show, adding, “He thinks he can move people around like chess pieces.”

VIDEO: Ousted 'X Factor' Judge Cheryl Cole Admits to Thick Accent

A representative for Cowell was not available for comment.