Rockin' around the Christmas tree: A picture of Cheryl Cole with her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh was posted up on Twitter by their PR
She's had a rotten year with her divorce from Ashley Cole and bout of malaria - but it seems the British public are losing sympathy with X Factor judge Cheryl Cole.
There's a wave of criticism of the Girls Aloud star on the internet today after her charge Rebecca Ferguson lost the grand final last night to Matt Cardle, with many viewers saying she'd ignored Rebecca for weeks in favour of Katie Waissel and Cher.
Posting on popular internet television forum Digital Spy, a poster using the name 'jlay' spoke for many when she wrote: 'If Cheryl had bothered about Rebecca when Cher and Katie were still in she may well have won.'
In fact, the backlash can probably be pinpointed to Cheryl's decision to put Cher and Katie into her final three rather than Gamu Nhengu.
Other viewers have branded her 'smug', 'detached' and 'over-emotional'.
Digital Spy user Milton Blake said that Rebecca lost because Cheryl wouldn't lower herself to be on Twitter.
He sniped: 'Cheryl is aloof, seemingly unreachable. Twitter gives Danni the illusion of being reachable.'
Anactoria agreed, saying: 'I actually think the #teamminogue thing took off a bit this year, far more than #teamcheryl' while Ladyhonestswag chipped in: 'Poor Cheryl, things still ain't looking up for her are they?'
Walk this way: Nicola, Cheryl and Louis leave the X Factor studios for the last time this year
Friends: Nicola, seen here leaving Cheryl's X Factor after party, was wearing a chic mushroom-coloured frilled jumpsuit, whereas Cheryl, also on her way home here, was in a stunning mulled wine coloured fitted frock
Another poster wrote: 'She showed herself up to be a smug madame and a totally unsuitable judge.
'I quite liked her music before for what it was, and did not really mind her as a person either way, but I've gone completely off her based on her behavior and smarm with Simon Cowell during this series of XF.'
Alwaysbeenyou observed: 'Audiences always need someone to hate. The past two years, Cheryl has been adored and Dannii has faced the audience claws.
'It's turned around this year. And people seem to be hating on Cheryl for no reason at all.'
In fact, Cheryl was almost in tears last night when her last X Factor finalist Rebecca Ferguson failed the win the competition - but Cheryl was given a massive boost afterwards by her Girls Aloud bandmates Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh.
Commiserations: Louis Walsh gives Cheryl a conciliatory peck as they leave the X Factor studios
Nicole and Kimberley, who had been in the audience for last night's nail-biting final, rushed backstage as soon as it had been announced Matt Cardle had won to console Cheryl with an aftershow party.
Armed with bottles of white wine, the trio had an impromptu Christmas party in Cheryl's backstage dressing room, accompanied by the band's PR - and gave their judge and mentor mate masses of hugs.
He took a pic of the ladies once they'd put a smile back on Cheryl's face and posted it up on his Twitter account.
Cheryl had been left gutted after she failed to win the X Factor final for the first time in three years.
Magic moment: Matt Cardle gets a hug from Rebecca Ferguson after the announcement that he's beaten her to win the X Factor, as Cheryl gives winning mentor Dannii Minogue a congratulatory cuddle
She first won with Alexandra Burke in 2008 then again with Joe McElderry in 2009, but rival mentor Dannii Minogue triumphed this year with Matt Cardle.
During the girl's night out in Cheryl's dressing room, the trio raised a glass to Kimberley, who could be the first member of Girls Aloud to have a hit in the States.
She's apparently teamed up with R&B superstar Ne-Yo after the singer took a shine to her when she interviewed him for a new for ITV2.
Although Kimberley has put her recording career on the backburner while she concentrates on her burgeoning television career, The Sun reports she's prepared to get back into the studio for the track.
Mother's love: Cheryl's mother Joan Callaghan had also been at the X Factor finals to support her daughter
3 Words - I'm going home: Cheryl heads off in a cab looking philosophical after Rebecca failed to land the X Factor 2010 title
She'll be hoping for more success than her bandmate Nadine Coyle, who's debut album Insatiable flopped.
Nadine made the controversial decision of selling her album exclusively through Tesco supermarkets, which could be one of the reasons it achieved such disappointing sales.
But a spokesperson for the supermarket chain said they are still holding out hope that sales will pick up when she releases new single Put Your Hands Up early next year.
Meanwhile, Sarah Harding has recorded a track with dance music maestro Roger Sanchez and Nicola Roberts' hotly-tipped solo material is out next year.
Source:Dailymail