Louis Walsh has spoken out about his decision to send X Factor favourite Laura White home.
The judge, 56, had the casting vote after Laura's sing-off with Ruth Lorenzo, 25, on Saturday.
And he shocked audiences by giving the 21-year-old the boot.
‘Laura was in the bottom two - her performance was bad and her styling was even worse,’ he tells The Sun.
‘She didn’t get the public support and got three votes from the judges.
‘No one in the bottom two ever wins The X Factor, that’s just a fact. Laura was never going to win.’
Since her departure, Laura, mentored by Cheryl Cole, 25, has been supported by Lily Allen and Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh.
Even Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said the decision was 'very harsh'.
Lily wrote on her blog: ‘Laura didn’t deserve to go. I think we were all shocked.’
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