The X Factor judge Dannii Minogue has been the subject of almost 4,000 complaints after she joked about a contestant’s sexuality on Saturday night’s show.

Ofcom announced today that it had been contacted 3,885 times since Minogue questioned why Danyl Johnson was singing to a “she” instead of a “he” on the high-rating ITV singing show.

The media watchdog is yet to decide whether to investigate the complaints.

The dance chart favourite sparked the complaints after Johnson performed And I’m Telling You, traditionally a female singer’s domain, and changed the lyrics so that the song was directed at a woman.

Minogue, referring to an interview in which Johnson said he was bisexual, commented: "If you're to believe everything you read in the papers, then you didn't need to change the gender references in the song."

Fellow judge and Johnson's mentor Simon Cowell looked horrified and told her: "You can forget playing any of those games with him. I'm not having that. This guy sang his heart out. Give him some credit."

Minogue, a long time gay icon, apologised to Johnson and to the audience the following day and again on Sunday night’s live show.

“Sorry to anyone I may have offended last night with my comments,” she said.

“They were only said with humour. Danyl and I had been joking about it before the show and he definitely wasn’t upset with my comments.”

Cowell supported her, telling the live audience:

“There’s never a live show, particularly this show, without a bit of drama.

“I’ve got to say I probably overreacted a bit in the moment - you get very very protective of your artists.

I can say this on behalf of Dannii she is the last person in the world that would ever do anything offensive. I spoke to Danyl afterwards and he took it in the spirit it was intended.”

Johnson has also backed the embattled judge, posting a message on his Twitter page saying: “I'm not ashamed. Danni didn't mean any harm. We are all smiles”.

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