Entertainment | X Factor Simon Fires Practically Everyone From X Factor Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, Steve Jones all get the boot By Evann Gastaldo Posted Jan 31, 2012 9:02 AM CST Copied In this Sept. 14, 2011 image from Fox, judges, from left, Nicole Sherzinger, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and LA Reid attend "The X Factor" screening at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/FOX, Frank Micelotta, FILE) It was a "bloodbath" at X Factor yesterday, Nikki Finke writes at Deadline, with host Steve Jones and judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul all getting the ax. Apparently Simon Cowell himself made the decision to clean house, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Cowell and LA Reid are the only two judges who will return for the second season of the reality competition, which has garnered not-great ratings. Insiders tell the Reporter Abdul was seen as "irrelevant to the mix," and add that Cowell wants bigger celebrities on the panel. Read These Next The 8 Democrats who bucked party on shutdown have something in common. Hormone therapy for menopause was unfairly demonized, says the FDA. Porn studio is US' 'most prolific copyright plaintiff.' A veteran federal judge resigns to protest Trump. Report an error