Behind the Scenes With Simon Cowell's Right-Hand Woman 2011 HD - 'X Factor': Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger React to Rachel Crow Elimination

More tears flowed on Thursday�sX Factor than any episode prior asRachel Crow, the sassy 13-year-old from Longmont, Colorado, was sent home in what turned out to be a genuine season shocker.It wasn�t the �save me� song that failed her, and Rachel never once visited the bottom two. No, it was America that sent her home, as the lowest vote-getter after Nicole Schrezinger tied up the score and forced a deadlock.

Now, many were quick to blame Nicole for Rachel�s exit, marking the second week in a row when the Pussycat Dolls singer felt the sting of harsh-as-hell criticism, but in speaking to reporters after the show, head judge Simon Cowellemphatically came to her defense.