'The Voice' UK Max Milner dismisses John Lydon 'humiliation' comments
Published May 29 2012, 11:42 BST | By Daniel Sperling
Former The Voice UK contestant Max Milner has responded to John Lydon's claim that TV talent shows humiliate contestants, saying that he "felt [at] home" on the BBC format.Lydon has been quoted as saying that shows like The Voice and The X Factor have a "painful tone of... smirking at who gets voted off" and are "utterly corrupting".
© BBC/Wall To Wall/Ray Burmiston
Speaking to Digital Spy, Milner rejected the punk icon's suggestion and said that, aside from some questionable editing in the Battle Rounds, he had not felt taken advantage of by The Voice.
"I never felt humiliated, no," he said. "I think I came across as slightly cocky in the Battle Rounds, which I'm really not. But that's the way it was edited and it's done now.
"And then we got into the live rounds, so I could only be me. I think maybe they can [humiliate], but in my experience, absolutely not. I almost felt [at] home."
© BBC / Wall To Wall
Milner, who was voted out in The Voice semi-final this weekend, agreed that his "amazing" fellow contestant Bo Bruce and their mentor Danny O'Donoghue were a big part of why he enjoyed the experience.
"[Danny] just believed in me, which is just so beautiful and so lovely," he said. "I owe everything to him, I really do. I look up to him so much, and that's not just because he's 6ft 4.
"You can see from somebody's body language and how they speak to you whether they actually like you, and I feel like he really does. I could just chill with him, and I have chilled with him in the pub. I'd like to think that he'd be happy in my company, as happy as I am in his."
© BBC/Wal to Wall/Guy Levy
However, the 21-year-old from London admitted that he was somewhat disappointed that he could not sing original songs on The Voice.
"I wanna get my music out there because I feel like I'm almost destined to sing my own words," he explained. "Obviously I haven't been able to do that on The Voice, it's all been covers.
"I suppose I was [disappointed] to an extent. I can understand that some people are instantly on board by hearing the song choice, but I would have loved to show my sound and really get that across. But hopefully that's not a pipe dream and I can do that now."
The Voice UK final airs Saturday, June 3 at 7.20pm on BBC One.
Watch Milner and other Team Danny members discussing their experiences below:
yeah what was with the original songs, I was waiting for that to happen. Half the reason I've watched it! Bit disappointed at that!
May 29th 2012 at 10:31pm
Lydon is an insult to the music scene full stop. He hasn't got a leg to stand on because he's been far to stoned to stand up straight half of the time and pass judgement.
May 29th 2012 at 8:08pm
The xfactor does... and anyone who can't see that must be blind!! I mean cmon sometimes they edit it so they have laughable acts one after another. The Voice on the other hand hasn't embarrased or made a fool out of anyone... So his statement is half right and Max is good to hit back. The battle round is what made me like max, the "cockyness" in his opinon came of as confindence to me, as apposed to Aleks who could barely smile!
May 29th 2012 at 4:28pm
and next year no one will remember max....over 30 years and Lydon is still out there writing and making music and touring .
Kinda speaks for itself.
May 29th 2012 at 3:58pm
I don't see why you've felt the need to attack him. He was asked for his opinion and he said that Lydon was wrong because that certainly has not been his experience while being on The Voice. Since Lydon hasn't actually taken part in one of these shows, he couldn't possible know what it's like and made a sweeping generalisation. Your comment was just unnecessary.
And yes, I'm sure Lydon will be writing and making music but he'll presumably be going back to the butter ads to fund his career too. Not a lot different to going on a TV show to enable yourself to do something you're passionate about, is it?
May 29th 2012 at 4:25pm(+1 like)
Max Milner was the best in my opinion I don't know why but I can't bring myself to watch Bo Bruce
May 29th 2012 at 1:05pm(+1 like)