X Factor reject Zoe Alexander told yesterday how her bid for stardom landed her in a police cell – after she was “set up” to be humiliated.
The 22-year-old Pink tribute singer was arrested and detained for three hours for attacking a female producer on the ITV talent show following her failed audition.
Three officers turned up at her home and took her for questioning.
She had her fingerprints taken and was made to give a DNA sample before being let off with a caution after admitting assault.
Zoe admits she flipped during the pre-recorded auditions in Cardiff after judges Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, Tulisa Constostavlos and Nicole Scherzinger described her as “average”.
She threw down the mic and called them “a bunch of c****” before lashing out at a producer.
Zoe claimed: “I don’t really remember what happened but I gave her a push – not a punch as some said.
“It was caught on CCTV and was caused by frustration. I shouldn’t have done it.
"I made an immediate public apology to the woman, the judges and most of all the audience for my bad language because I don’t swear normally.
“But I was amazed when the police knocked on my door the next day and arrested me.
"But they were really nice and didn’t handcuff me – and I was only in a cell for a few minutes.”
She said: “After they interviewed me they said they could see I was a quiet and genuine person who had been pushed to their limits.
"They had six statements from X Factor staff, including security officers.
“They said it was not worth their time to investigate further and asked me to accept a caution which I have done.”
Zoe, who has performed all over Europe as a Pink tribute act, claimed she wanted to appear on X Factor as herself but producers encouraged her to do her Pink routine.
The ex-call centre worker from Caerphilly, South Wales, was just 30 seconds into Pink song So What when Barlow stopped her.
Zoe reckoned: “When the judges rejected me I realised I had been manipulated by the X Factor for the previous six weeks.
“They lured me in, coaxed me and even chose my song all with the intention of setting me up for a fall.
“I am really shocked at the lengths they will go to to set people up for humiliation.
"They knew I had a bit of attitude on stage – which is nothing like I am in real life.
"When Gary Barlow told me I was just a Pink tribute act I was stunned – that’s exactly what the producers asked me to be.
"They mocked me and made fun out of what I do for a living.”
Last night an X Factor insider said: “She had opportunities to perform different songs but still didn’t reach the required standard
But Zoe has no complaints about the police.
She says they were “very kind” – and claims they even joked about booking her for their Christmas party.