X Factor hopeful Shirlena Johnson furious at being axed

AXED X Factor contestant Shirlena Johnson has today hit out at the decision to drop her from the show amid concerns for her mental health.

X Factor bosses confirmed that she would not continue in the interests of her welfare.

But singing hopeful Shirlena insisted she was “not mentally ill” and that being kicked off the X Factor was “a complete catastrophe”.

The wannabe pop star caused a stir during her first appearance on ITV1’s X Factor with an eccentric routine.

More than 12 million viewers saw Shirlena, a single mother, perform a bizarre rendition of the Duffy track Mercy, in which she forgot most of the words.

But following the performance, concerns over Shirlena’s mental health were raised and X Factor bosses axed her.

Shirlena said: “This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”