The 'X Factor' just released never before seen footage that shows how the boy band was formed - and it’s not the story we had been told.
One Direction had always been described as the brainchild of 'X Factor' judge Simon Cowell, but this footage shows that it was really 'The Pussycat Dolls' front women Nicole Scherzinger who put Harry, Louise, Liam, Naill and Zayn together.
In the footage the judges are standing around a table looking at all of the eliminated solo male artists from 2010’s 'X Factor' season, when Nicole says, “Lets’ do an imaginary boy band, instead of just saying no”. Nicole then places Niall and Harry together. ‘“It’s the cutest boy band ever,” she says.
The judges then add Louis Tomlinson to the mix. And then Nicole adds Liam Payne. Finally they add Zayn Malik and create one of the biggest boy bands of all time
In the footage Nicole says “They have just the right look and the right charisma on stage, I think they’ll be really great in a boy band together. They’re like little stars. You can’t get rid of little stars, so you put them all together”.
The unseen backstage footage was released by The 'X Factor' to celebrate One Direction’s 12th anniversary. But the 'X Factor' may have had another motive to post the footage.
Liam Payne recently claimed on Logan Paul’s podcast that Simon Cowell had formed One Direction around him.
Payne said “part of the reason One Direction was made was because of Simon's promise to me that in two years 'I'll make this work for you.' So he kind of started with my face and then worked around [me]."
Well this 'X Factor' footage tells a different story - in fact it shows Simon Cowell had doubts about Liam’s ability to work with a group. He said about Liam “he thinks he’s better than anyone else”.
Nicole comes to Liam’s defence saying “He can actually maybe be the leader”. This gives some water to Liam’s claims that 'X Factor' had intended him as the boyband's lead.
But this behind the scenes footage shows that Liam’s claims are a big exaggeration. 1D wasn't ‘formed around’ Liam. It was Niall Horan and Harry Styles that the band was built around.
