The controversies have raged during this year's series of the X Factor, from the auto-tuning scandal, finalists with recording contracts and Gamu-gate.
And now another scandal has erupted as a former winner of the ITV show accuses contestants of miming.
2005 winner Shayne Ward has slammed crowd favourites One Direction, saying he believes they are lip syncing their performances.
'They shouldn't mime but there has to be a reason,' the singer, who performed on the show himself earlier this month, said at the Nordoff Robbins boxing dinner this week.
'With X Factor you do loads of interviews - a lot of talking.
'So when it comes to the weekend voices are shot,' he told the Sun.
'You can tell they're hurting because they don't want to mime. Not that I ever did it.'
An X Factor spokesman strongl
y denied the allegations.
Miming? X Factor favourites One Direction have been accused of lip syncing their Saturday night performances
Favourites: The boys have attracted a massive following among young female fans
'All Saturday night competitive performances are performed and sung live by the contestants,' the spokesman told the Mail Online.
'And we'd take it very seriously if there were any suggestion otherwise.
He also confirmed: 'Sunday ensemble group performances are pre-recorded for time reasons.'
But 26-year-old Ward is not the first to make accusations.
The real deal: Shayne Ward, pictured performing on the X Factor results show on November 6, says he never mimed during the 2005 competition
X Factor fans have been debating the subject on internet forums and social networking sites for several weeks, with the boys' rendition of Kids in America in Week 5 inviting questions over whether or not they were miming.
The Mail Online reported at the time of the controversy, which was sparked by a close-up shot of Zain Malik during the performance on November 5.
The 17-year-old appeared to miss his cue at one point, but the vocals were unaffected
Controversy: The band, including Harry Styles (left) and Liam Payne, originally sparked questions during their Week 5 performance
Fans took to Twitter to question whether they were singing along to a pre-recorded track.
Alexander McNeil tweeted: 'OMG, Zain REALLY dropped the ball on The #xfactor tonight.... so obviously One Direction were miming parts... ARGH!'
Gavin Lauchlan added: 'I'm fairly convinced there's some kind of miming/vocal shenanigans going on with One Direction.'
Woops: Zain Malik appeared to miss his cue during the group's rendition of Kids in America, but vocals were unaffected
RoseGardenAcs agreed, 'One Direction miming the chorus.. I'd send them straight to the naughty step.'
But internet forum members disagreed, with one insisting: 'Not all members were singing at the same time, and there is no way they were miming.'
The finalists are believed to pre-record vocals which are played as backing tracks to their performances.
The X Factor are yet to respond to requests for comment from the Mail Online.
Fans: Despite the controversy, One Direction, with Louis Tomlinson (left) and Niall Horan pictured, are among the favourites to win
Feeling the strain? A tired-looking Cher Lloyd - who was in the sing-off on Sunday - arriving at rehearsals in London today
source:dailymail