Steve Brookstein, who won the first series of 'X-Factor', has criticised Simon Cowell over his treatment of the more recent winner Leon Jackson, who triumphed on the TV talent show in 2007. I imagine Brookstein feels that Jackson got much the same treatment as he did.
As previously reported, Jackson was dropped by Sony Music last week, despite an upcoming tour, because of disappointing sales of his debut album 'Right Now', and amid rumours Cowell's team didn't try so hard on making a success of his long player because they didn't believe he should have won the talent show. Brookstein was dropped within eight months of his win.
Writing on his blog, Brookstein said: "If they cared anything about Leon they would have announced his departure after his tour and not before it, they would have kept his fans informed, his website up-to-date, and not put comments from Simon into the press saying: 'nice guy but not gonna set the world on fire, Rhydian should have won'".
He continued: "It reminds me of his 'G4 were the real winners!' I'm surprised he allows the public to vote when they've only got it right once in four years. When they spent their money deciding Leona Lewis had more 'X' than the ice skater Ray Quinn. Phew, tough choice".