X Factor creator and famed judge Simon Cowell has spoken for the first time about the controversy that engulfed the New Zealand edition of the show thanks to harsh comments made by Natalia Kills and Willy Moon.

The husband and wife judging duo were fired from the talent-spotting TV show after insulting contestant Joe Irvine, calling his performance “disgusting” and comparing him to fictional murderer Norman Bates.

Speaking to The Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine about Natalia Kills’ behaviour, Simon Cowell stated:

“It was hateful. She sounded mad.”

He added: “It didn't even make sense.”

Cowell also pointed out that Kills and Moon’s biggest mistake was not making a faster or more sincere apology:

“Where they cocked up was that they didn't apologise straight away. If they'd both been genuinely sorry and called me, and apologised to the guy and his family, who knows what could have happened? They didn't. They were quite defensive.”

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Watch Natalia Kills and Willy Moon’s infamous X Factor appearance below: