Furious X Factor fans branded the show a 'joke' and vowed never to watch it again after Sharon sent Honey G through to the live shows.

The rapper, who has been seen as this year's token comedy act, was mercilessly mocked online for her rendition of Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise - but the song was enough to please judge Sharon.

And the unhappy family of unsuccessful X Factor contestant Samantha Atkinson have weighed in on the furore, starting a petition to have Honey G booted from the show.

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Furious: Raging fans vowed never to watch X Factor again after 'token comedy act' Honey G made it to the live shows - and unsuccessful contestant Samantha Atkinson's family even started a petition to have her booted off

Samantha lost out on a place at the Judge's Houses stage of the competition, when Sharon Osbourne opted for controversial contestant Honey G instead.

And within hours of the petition going live on Sunday, it reached its goal of 5000 signatures.

Yasemin Kara posted the petition on Care 2 Petitions, writing: 'Samantha Atkinson is my cousin and I and thousands of other X factor viewers feel she was robbed of her place on live shows tonight....when Sharon osbourne gave Honey G one of them laces in final 12.....'.

Devastated: Samantha (pictured) lost out on a place at the judge's houses stage of the competition, when Sharon Osbourne opted for controversial contestant Honey G instead

Defiant: The landlady was left 'distraught' after she was overlooked during the judge's houses stage

Keeping positive: The X Factor reject's family have claimed this is 'not the end' for Samantha

'Let's sign and show X factor bosses and Itv that they have made a huge mistake!!!'

Within hours the petition had already almost reached its target signature goal of five thousand, boasting over six thousand shares.

Honey initially didn't make it through to the judges' houses stage of the competition was but was drafted back in after contestant Ivy Grace couldn't get to Sharon's US mansion due to 'visa issues'.

You're through: There was further controversy on Sunday evening's X Factor as Sharon Osbourne selected controversial wannabe rapper Honey G for the live finals

'Samantha Atkinson is my cousin and I and thousands of other X factor viewers feel she was robbed of her place on live shows tonight': Yasemin Kara posted the petition to get Honey G booted off the show on Care 2 Petitions

And when Sharon selected her to proceed to the live shows on Sunday night, viewers were sent into a furious frenzy.

Fan Grace Hilling wrote: 'Why do I waste my life watching X Factor... Not watching it ever again'

Another bitterly said: 'I think im going to boycott this years xfactor on the grounds that the judges are turning the show into laughing stock #HoneyG #deluded…' (sic)

Other fans called Honey G a 'cheater' while one joked: 'Can we never get rid of Honey G?…'

Another complained: 'The fact that Honey G made it to judges houses is just despicable.'

Delighted: 'Honey G it would be a big risk for me to put you though, but I've taken risks all my life and you're stuck with me,' Sharon told her

Shock horror: When Sharon selected Honey G to proceed to the live shows on Sunday night, viewers were sent into a furious frenzy and threatened to boycott the series

Tensions were high as Honey made it through at the expense of talented Hull barmaid Samantha Atkinson, whose impressive version of Louisa Johnson hit Tears wasn't enough as Sharon looked to diversify her final three selections.

'I'm a little bit worried about song choice, and what you would sing every week,' Sharon told her. 'Honey G it would be a big risk for me to put you though, but I've taken risks all my life and you're stuck with me.'

'We're going to put north weezy on the map!' the delighted rapper told host Dermot O'Leary after being given the news.

The rapper made it through after performing her own unique interpretation of Coolio hit Gangsta's Paradise.

Questionable: The rapper made it through after performing her own unique interpretation of Coolio hit Gangsta's Paradise

Let me entertain you: The performance tickled guest judge Robbie Williams, who admitted the rapper 'made him happy'

'She makes me happy, but her talent for making me happy isn't the talent for the show,' said guest judge Robbie Williams following her performance. 'When I wake up tomorrow will I remember Honey G? I think I'll remember Honey G for the rest of my life.'

And following the controversial decision Twitter was soon flooded with memes.

Relley C also made it through to the live shows after performing an accomplished version of Kelly Clarkson's Up To The Mountain.

The show veteran had pinned her hopes on making it through after previously making it to judges in 2013, only to be sent home by Nicole Scherzinger.

Hilarious: Twitter was soon flooded with memes following Sharon's controversial decision

'Nicole sent you home, but I'm not Nicole and I'm not sending you home. You're going to stay!' Sharon told her.

Finnish wildcard Saara Aalto was making a last ditch attempt to impress after 'failing to connect' with Sharon during the show's six chair challenge.

After performing a version of Abba's The Winner Takes It All, the singer claimed to have seen a tear in Robbie's eye.

So happy: Relley C also made it through on Sunday evening

Impressive: The singer won a place in the final three after performing an accomplished version of Kelly Clarkson's Up To The Mountain

Can't believe it: Sharon made the surprise decision to send Saara Aalto through after seeing enough to inspire confidence in her ability to handle the live shows

However the former Take That star was far from impressed with the rendition, telling Sharon: 'When she sang and performed I felt myself drifted off, I felt a bit bored.'

Despite his lack of enthusiasm, Sharon made the surprise decision to send her through after seeing enough to inspire confidence in her ability to handle the live shows.

Meanwhile there was double heartbreak for Janet Grogan, who hoped her rendition of Duran Duran's Ordinary World would be enough to see her through after failing to progress during an appearance on The X Factor in 2014.

You've made the cut: Sharon delivered the news to a stunned Saara on Sunday evening

Last chance: Saara was making a last ditch attempt to impress after 'failing to connect' with Sharon during the show's six chair challenge.

'I love her voice, she's got a really good tone to her voice and she's confident when she sings,' enthused Robbie. 'She's got an Adele quality to her.'

But it wasn't enough, and Sharon sent the Irish singer home after admitting her performances were too static.

James Wilson was keen to impress with Adele's Make You Feel My Love after nerves got the better of him during the audition stage of the competition.

Hopeful: James Wilson was keen to impress with Adele's Make You Feel My Love after nerves got the better of him during the audition stage of the competition

Despair: Sharon later told the hopeful singer that his time in the competition was over

Movin' On Up: Christopher Peyton performed a rendition of the Primal Scream hit on Sunday evening

It's over: But the performance wasn't enough to impress Sharon, who told him the performance was 'forced'

Despite turning in an accomplished performance Sharon admitted she had doubts, telling Robbie: 'I like the fact that he's so honest about everything. So much insecurity... I'm not sure if he could cope with being up on that stage.'

That sentiment continued as Sharon told the hopeful singer that his time in the competition was over.

'I genuinely feel that you've come so far, but you've just got to get that performance down,' she said.

Christopher Peyton's acoustic version of Moving On Up by Primal Scream also fell flat.

'You do have soul, you really do. I just felt that the performance was very forced,' a diplomatic Sharon admitted before sending him home.

She's got talent: Hull landlady Samantha Atkinson performed Tears by Louisa Johnson- but was unsuccessful

Not again: There was double heartbreak for Janet Grogan, who hoped her rendition of Duran Duran's Ordinary World would be enough to see her through after failing to progress during an appearance on The X Factor in 2014

Heart and soul: But ultimately it was no enough, and the Irish singer was sent home

We made it: (L-R) Saara Aalto, Relley C, and Honey G celebrate their victory

Meanwhile Nicole Scherzinger's boys were hoping to do enough to justify their selection during an appearance at her villa in the South of France.

The singer had good company in the form of Grammy award winning Calvin Harris, who was on hand to cast a critical eye over the young hopefuls.

Ryan Lawrie was making the most of his second chance after originally failing to make it past boot camp.

And his performance of Hall & Oates hit You Make My Dreams appeared to hit the right spot with Nicole, who gave him a pass to the live shows despite admitting she wasn't sure if he worked as a solo artist.

Elsewhere a nervous Niall Sexton opted for a version of Spice Girls' hit 2 Become 1.

Hopeful: Ryan Lawrie was making the most of his second chance after originally failing to make it past boot camp

You're coming with me: His performance of Hall & Oates hit You Make My Dreams appeared to hit the right spot with Nicole, who gave him a pass to the live shows despite admitting she wasn't sure if he worked as a solo artist

Here we go: Elsewhere a nervous Niall Sexton opted for a version of Spice Girls' hit 2 Become 1

Tears: The singer was ultimately told he would not progress to the live shows

'That was fantastic,' said a clearly impressed Calvin, who had no issue with the singer's voice, but admitted: 'The one thing that could be criticized is his stage presence.'

Nicole agreed, and the singer was ultimately told he would not progress to the live shows.

Freddy Parker performed Ellie Goulding's Love Me Like You Do, prompted an equally gushing response from Nicole - although she admitted there were lingering doubts.

'I think of all the boys he's actually an artist, but you do have to be versatile during the live shows, and is he versatile enough?' she queried.

Unbelievable: Freddie Parker won a place in the final three despite some initial uncertainty from Nicole

On song: The young singer performed Ellie Goulding's Love Me Like You Do

Despite her uncertainty Freddie won a place in the final three, but there was disappointment for Nate Simpson, whose powerful version Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald wasn't enough.

There was further devastation for James Hughes after the Scottish singer forgot the lines to Marvin Gaye's Aint No Mountain High Enough.

The singer looked visibly distraught after starting the song in the wrong key, but managed to pull it back enough to prompt encouraging responses from Nicole and Calvin.

Bad news: There was disappointment for Nate Simpson on Sunday evening

I'm sorry: There was further devastation for James, who was sent home after forgetting the lines to Marvin Gaye's Aint No Mountain High Enough

High hopes: Christian Burrows came next with The Fray's How To Save A Life, a performance Calvin called 'fantastic'

Powerful: Matt Terry performed an emotional version of She's Out Of My Life by Michael Jackson after admitting the song related to the end of a relationship with an ex-girlfriend

However the incident raised questions about his ability to perform live, and Nicole ultimately made the decision send him home.

Christian Burrows came next with The Fray's How To Save A Life, a performance Calvin called 'fantastic.'

'But he's very vulnerable,' said Nicole. 'Do you think he's going to be strong enough for the live shows?'

A gift for fashion: Gifty Louise was all smiles as she put on an eye-popping display in a plunging wraparound top and skirt combo

Scottish sass: Samantha Lavery unleashed her inner-rock chick for the evening in a leather jacket, ripped denim jeans and knee-high boots

Brothers in arms: Brooks Way's Josh and Kyle rocked hipster street chic outfits as they made their way out of the studio

Miss Controversial: Honey G rocked her signature shades and cap and a old-school hip hop look for her outing

An unlikely friendship: The North West Londoner and her fellow Overs hopeful Saara Aalto were in high spirits as they made their way to a car

Hell for leather: Saara, 29, flashed her toned mid-riff in a pair of leather trousers and a metallic keyhole top

Those doubts persisted a she pored over her final three, and the young singer also failed to make it through.

Matt Terry performed an emotional version of She's Out Of My Life by Michael Jackson after admitting the song related to the end of a relationship with an ex-girlfriend.

'You looked like you were having a moment!' Calvin told Nicole, who appeared to be moved to tears by the performance.

She later made the decision to send the young singer through, telling him: 'You have to be a Scherzy boy.'

And there were plenty more smiles on Sunday night when a selection of the final 12 made their way out of the Xtra Factor studio.

The X Factor continues on Saturday evening on ITV1, 8:00pm.

All smiles: Matt Terry was full of joy as he left the studio

Excited boys? Freddy Parker joined Matt in the back of a car, and could hardly contain his excitement following the show

An eye-catching look: Bratavio went all out for their appearance on the show, and both Bradley and Ottavio rocked quirky food-themed outfits