LOS ANGELES – Cheryl Cole is out of "The X Factor."
Fox and the producers of the upcoming singing contest said Monday the British pop star will be replaced by Nicole Scherzinger as a judge. Scherzinger had originally joined the show as a host.
The network and "X Factor" producers FremantleMedia North American and Syco TV didn’t offer any details on the decision in a brief joint statement. But Cole’s official ouster followed weeks of reports that she might be off the show.
Among the possible reasons rumored: her lack of chemistry with fellow judges L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, who is also the show’s creator. Cole was a judge on the original British "The X Factor," and it’s unclear whether she’ll return to that program.
Cole could not be immediately reached for comment.
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