The Pussycat Dolls made their comeback performance on Saturday night – but it seems it wasn’t necessarily worth the 10-year wait.
After announcing their reunion last week, the group came together on stage during the X Factor: Celebrity final.
The performance saw the girls – headed up by X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger – sing a medley of their greatest hits along with a preview of new song React.However, while the risqué showcase certainly raised temperatures, it left many viewers cold.
First off, there were accusations of miming thrown at the group, with fans believing they were using a pre-recorded backing trackWell, I cannot be the only one who saw the horrendous miming by the Pussycat Dolls on @TheXFactor even Nicole mimed part of the performance. They got back a week ago and you can tell vocals from the 4 minor Pussycat Dolls same as original— Tony Anderson (@Tony_Anderson95) November 30, 2019Pussycat dolls 🤔 Nicole can sing but what was with the miming tonight... get me the vocals from that cover of phantom of the opera— Ross ✨ (@NotMyPettyEx) November 30, 2019Turned on ITV. This is a really weirdly bad miming performance from the Pussycat Dolls. Nicole is singing some bits and mixing others.— Joel (@ThatJoelYoung) November 30, 2019the pussycat dolls effort of performing on x factor tonight is actually pathetic, not even miming well🤣— beth mccabe (@bethmc04) November 30, 2019Do the Pussycat Dolls want to make it any more obvious that they’re miming orrrrrrrr...— EM (@emmburgin) November 30, 2019And even though it was obvious that at least Nicole’s mic was turned on, people were puzzled why she didn’t seem to be bothering to sing muchIs this a joke 😂😂 she sang for like 30 sec and talked for 30 sec and then it was playback for 4 min! It was nostalgic and good dancing, but Little Mix def don't need to learn from them! They can actually all sing and dance at the same time— Drea (@Drea88228849) December 1, 2019Nicole’s mic is certainly live for the shout outs and the odd bit of singing but the vast majority of this performance is lip synced. I doubt the other 4 girls even did the background vocals on their albums. #CelebrityXFactor#PussyCatDolls— Angel Costa 👁 (@angelcosta78) November 30, 2019How come Nicole was still singing - but her mouth was closed. Now that’s novel ! Worst performance I’ve seen on tv for years 😂😂😂— Janet maude (@janet25m) December 1, 2019Nicole was singing some parts live. The belt in When I Grow Up was live as hell.— Art Tea Moe (@HerNameIsAFlop) December 1, 2019Many were disappointed that the other four members were still serving as Nicole’s backing dancers#PussyCatDolls haven't changed, it's still Nicole and her back up singers 🙄 still miming too so no wonder they sound great 😂#XFactorCelebrity— Trace Gardner (@TraceGardnerB) November 30, 2019Watched the pussycat doll “reunion” mate Nicole just got her back up dancers back. The performance missed Melody’s vocals big time. I’ll pass....— WhoSaidThat (@empress_crowned) December 1, 2019If we are going to have a Pussycat Doll reunion can we PLEASE give everyone a chance and not make it the Nicole show? That reunion performance was basically just Nicole and her back up dancers— Briony ☠ (@BrionyBea) December 1, 2019What's the point in the pussycat dolls?? Its just Nicole Scherzinger and some back up dancers! I'll be shocked if this reunion is a big deal.— Liam ST (@LiamScottTOG) December 1, 2019was that the pussycat dolls or nicole and 4 back up dancers? literally not one close up of anyone else haha embarrassing for them 😂🤦🏻♀️ #XFactorCelebrity— SarahBrookes (@SarahBrookes_) November 30, 2019What was the point of Nicole only singing in the Pussycat Dolls? Did their record label not think the public would find it odd?— I DON'T KNOW HER (@I_Dont_Know_Her) November 30, 2019I never understood The Pussycat Dolls. Are they a burlesque singing GROUP or just Nicole Scherzinger singing with back up burlesque dancers who occasionally hold mics? pic.twitter.com/MBexSALa8R— sunflowa dude.🌻 (@JoonyaBoonya) December 1, 2019And it did not go unnoticed that the camera barely flicked to the other members – and when it did, it didn’t seem like they were lit in the same way Nicole wasPussycat Dolls’ choreography was incredible. But it felt like about 10% of it was live. And the other four were in the dark half the time..?! #XFactorCelebrity— Ed Gleave (@EdHotTV) November 30, 2019Nicole only had 3 rules tonight1. Only she is brunette 2. Only she sings3. Only she is lit centre stageLadies and gentleman. Nicole ft the pussycat backup dancers #XFactorCelebrityfinal#pussycatdolls#pcdreunionpic.twitter.com/5IYzWAdzKw— Vote
Labour on November 12 (@Bambi_Eyess) November 30, 2019So the #pussycatdolls could actually just be @NicoleScherzy and any other random 4 hot dancers, given that none of the others are allowed to sing or speak or even stand in a lit area of the stage. #XFactorCelebrity— Astrohurricane (@Astrohurricane) November 30, 2019The camera only seemed to like Nicole though, there are 4 other members you know 🤷🏼♀️— Victoria Parsons (@Vickylwebb) December 1, 2019Looks like nothing's changed. God forbid the camera captures anyone other than Nicole.— Braxton James (@SouthAuxStuff) December 1, 2019Dear @ITV cameramen! There are 5 members of the @thepcdreunion - you only Pointed camera at one of them...but there are definitely 5! #XFactorCelebrity#pussycatdolls#justiceforashleyroberts— Karlos International (@Karlos_Int) November 30, 2019Extremely bias camera 🎥 work, Nicole at all times, #morekimberley 😍 #solonotsolo— . (@TheExpungedOne) November 30, 2019Pussycat Dolls comeback performance was great but you could literally have Nicole singing PCD songs without them and there would be no difference. Half the time the Dolls weren’t even in frame and they got no close ups 😂 No wonder Melody didn’t return... pic.twitter.com/D5EdCBmalA— JACQUES (@arcadeyblog) December 1, 2019Former member Melody Thornton was also missed, after declining the chance to join the reunionEveryone knows the Pussycat dolls really was Nicole, melody and company, so without melody this reunion doesn’t hit the spot— Papa Slime (@msolurin) December 1, 2019Watched the pussycat doll “reunion” mate Nicole just got her back up dancers back. The performance missed Melody’s vocals big time. I’ll pass....— WhoSaidThat (@empress_crowned) December 1, 2019OK..... SO I love the Pussycat Dolls and what they bring! It’s nice to see Nicole finally realize that she needs them just as much as they need her. Everybody’s not meant to be solo. I AM however disappointed that Melody is not coming back. They NEVER gave her her just do! https://t.co/R0eeJRrAqh— 💯 (@PhoniBraxxxton) December 1, 2019Um the #PussyCatDolls reunited without Melody? ... not interested pic.twitter.com/p3RBLfvFS8— DA$H (@je_mapelleDEE) December 1, 2019But hey, at least the dancing hit the spot, right?Well after that diabolical performance on x factor, I think pussycat dolls can go back into retirement 🙄 well done on the "dancing" I guess 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️— Frances Cheyne (@fran_c18) November 30, 2019Anyway.... Miming or not (😉) the dancing was on point and it was so good to see the Pussycat Dolls back together again. #XFactorCelebritypic.twitter.com/l9036IyMnz— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) November 30, 2019But fantastic at dancing - and they looked brilliant. Nicole is the lead vocalist.. you try fencing at that speed for 6 mins and sing at the same time.— BEPPA בבל בפה 🅥 (@beppababel) December 1, 2019I give the pussycat dolls performance a 5/10. Dancing was a 10 because they are great in terms of group dances and I wasn't expecting the others to sing the old songs along with Nicole but they didn't even have a part in the new song from the performance at least. #xfactor— D I A N 💬 (@HiltonPosts) December 1, 2019damnnnnnn at the pussycat dolls performance on x factor. they went hard with the dancing (and one of them just had her 3rd kid????) and looked great— 🔪kethibal (kethy)🔪 (@ghostdrive) December 1, 2019The Pussycat Dolls were formed as a burlesque troupe in 1995 and later went on to release hits such as Don’t Cha, Buttons and Stickwitu.
They split in 2010 amid rumours of a rift over Nicole’s dominant role in both the recording studio and on stage.
Nicole recently said of the reunion: “First of all, I hope it’s different because we are different. It is ten years on now. We all bring our own unique gifts to the group. I am so excited and we have grown so much.
“We are here to see each other shine. I think we are going to push each other.”
Watch their X Factor performance in full below...READ MORE... Nicole Scherzinger Claims She Was Snubbed From Cats Film After Andrew Lloyd Webber Fall-Out Here's Why Pussycat Dolls Star Melody Thornton Said She Had No Interest In Reunion The Pussycat Dolls Are Back… But Not Quite As We Remember Them