Zingo Bingo<\/a> described his time on the ITV talent show as something he would repeat \u201cat the drop of a hat\u201d, calling it one of the most formative experiences of his career.<\/p>\n\u201cI just remember it with the fondest of memories, incredible experiences, meeting the loveliest of people,\u201d he said, adding that the show\u2019s early years were defined by \u201cthe entertainment, the originality, the rawness of it, the organicness of it\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Ozzy](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202000%201281'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\")
<\/p>\n
Mr Slimani shared a touching tribute to Ozzy Osbourne<\/p>\n
| <\/p>\n
GETTY<\/p>\n
However, it was a dramatic performance moment involving a swimming pool, and an unexpected reaction from Mr Osbourne, that remains etched in his memory.<\/p>\n
Recalling the infamous incident where he leapt into a pool mid-performance while holding a live microphone, Mr Slimani admitted: \u201cI didn\u2019t even think I had a live microphone in my hand. I could have electrocuted myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
What followed, he said, was life-changing.<\/p>\n
Mr Slimani revealed: \u201cOzzy literally comes up and goes, \u2018I thought that was freaking amazing.”<\/p>\n
![\"Chico\"\/](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202000%203011'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\")
<\/p>\n
Chico rose to fame as a contestant on the 2005 series of The X Factor<\/p>\n
| <\/p>\n
Photo supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a pivotal moment for me, in the sense of the ones that didn\u2019t like me, weren\u2019t sure about me, were like, \u2018well, you know what, if he\u2019s good enough for Ozzy Osbourne, he\u2019s good enough for us\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
The singer went on to explain that Mr Osbourne later played a crucial role during one of his lowest moments on the show, when he considered quitting altogether after harsh press criticism.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just broken,\u201d Mr Slimani said, referencing a headline questioning whether he was \u201cthe biggest waste of space on British TV\u201d.<\/p>\n
He credits Mr Osbourne with encouraging him to stay true to himself.<\/p>\n
![\"X](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%202000%201299'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\")
<\/p>\n
Chico Slimani made history as the first contestant to perform an original song during the live shows<\/p>\n
| <\/p>\n
GETTY<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said to me, \u2018yo my brother, to thyself be true,\u2019\u201d Mr Slimani recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right, my brother, because it\u2019s Chico time,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cHe said, \u2018that\u2019s a song\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
The track went on to make X Factor history.<\/p>\n
Mr Slimani said \u201cIt was the first original song that was ever sung on live TV and it also went on to get a number one.”<\/p>\n
The former reality TV star said his journey since the X Factor has been one of gratitude rather than resentment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were treated fabulously, and we\u2019ve all gone on to do some amazing things,\u201d he said, listing his charity work, pantomime roles, fitness ventures and bestselling book.<\/p>\n
Above all, Mr Slimani made clear that Mr Osbourne\u2019s influence extended far beyond music.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt allowed me to go on and create some amazing things that are helping people as we speak,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
‘Chico’ gushed over his time on the X Factor<\/p>\n
| <\/p>\n
Photo supplied<\/p>\n
The Chico Time singer\u2019s comments about his positive experience on The X Factor come amid renewed scrutiny of the show, after a number of former contestants united to speak out about what they describe as a \u201ctoxic\u201d environment behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
Several ex-participants have accused the programme of fostering intense pressure during filming, with some going as far as to pursue legal action against Mr Simon Cowell and his production company.<\/p>\n
In August 2022, reports emerged that five former X Factor contestants were preparing a \u00a31million lawsuit against Syco Entertainment, alleging \u201ctrauma, mistreatment and neglect\u201d. <\/p>\n
They claimed contestants were treated as \u201cpawns\u201d, subjected to sleep deprivation and extreme stress, and left without adequate aftercare once the show ended.<\/p>\n
Among them was Katie Waissel, who competed in 2010 and later retrained as a lawyer. <\/p>\n
She has pursued a civil personal injury claim against Syco Entertainment, alleging a breach of duty of care. <\/p>\n
Ms Waissel has said she suffered PTSD, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts after being branded the \u201cmost hated\u201d contestant on the show, and has described the contracts as manipulative.<\/p>\n
However, not all stars from Mr Cowell\u2019s reality TV franchises have shared those criticisms.<\/p>\n
Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever winner of American Idol, publicly praised Mr Cowell during his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2018, crediting him with \u201cchanging her life\u201d.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Little Mix’ Jade Thirlwall has spoken openly about mental health struggles following her time on the show but has remained conflicted about criticising it outright, previously saying the X Factor \u201cchanged [her] life\u201d and made her career possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Chico Slimani has shared a heartfelt tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, recalling a pivotal moment from the X Factor…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":282095,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[921,93,61,60,278],"class_list":["post-282094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-celebrity","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=282094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/282094\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/282095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=282094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=282094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=282094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Ozzy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ozzy-osbourne-chico-and-king-charles.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Chico\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/chico.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"X](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/x-factor.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Chico\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770294970_268_chico.jpg\")
<\/p>\n