Rylan Clark-Neal praised for 'professional' response to Simon Cowell 'gay joke' on live TV
VIEWERS have heaped praise on Rylan Clark-Neal for the way he handled what appeared to be a joke about his sexuality from Simon Cowell.
Simon Cowell shocks Rylan with X-RATED joke
The pair were live on The Xtra Factor when Rylan introduced an item that involved the judges - including Simon - deciding which fan question to answer from behind a given set of front doors.
When Rylan quipped that he "loves a front door", Simon said: "I thought you liked a back door."
Cameras cut to the mogul, who was immediately overcome with embarrassment and turned his chair away from the camera, turning bright red. Further down the table, Louis Walsh also looked unimpressed.
"I shouldn't have said that," he said. "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry."
Simon Cowell made a joke about Rylan Clark-Neal on The Xtra Factor
Rylan took the gag in good spirits
The panel were talking to Rylan and Matt Edmondson on The Xtra Factor
Rylan then got up out of his own chair and sat on the desk by Simon, joking along with him.
"Just switched on the Xtra Factor to see Simon Cowell make a VERY rude comment to @Rylan, who handled it very well. Silly Simon!" one person wrote online.
"Rylan brilliantly handled Simon's back door joke on #XtraFactor - total professional," said someone else.
Other fans were divided over whether the gag was funny or "rude".
Simon apologised for the mishap
"#XFactor. Best quote ever from Simon Cowel to Rylan .... I thought you liked the back door !!!! Funniest thing ever !!!!!!" one laughed.
However, someone else said: "tut tut that wasn't a nice comment to rylan was it Simon."
The Xtra Factor airs immediately after The X Factor on ITV2.