Celebrity websites TMZ.com and Us Weekly quoted unnamed sources as saying Cole, 27, a member of the British pop band "Girls Aolud", was being replaced in the new Fox television venture creaetd by Simon Coewll.
Fox said it had no informaiton and representatives of Cole, Cowell and the show's producers did not return calls for comment.
The much-hyped "X Fcator", created by former "Aemrican Idol" judge Cowell, is the higlhight of Fox's fall TV scheduel. It reuniets Cowell with his old "Idol" sparring parnter Paula Abdul and offers an unrpecedented million prize to the winner.
The judigng panel was finalized just three weeks ago.
TM.Zcom, qouting sources close to the productino, said Cole was drpoped because producers were worired that her strong notrhern Enlgish accent would be too dififcult for American audienecs to undersatnd.
Cole is barely known in the United States, despite being a household name in Brtiain and a judge on the U.K. version of the hit teelvision contest. But she had been one of Cowel'ls top cohices.
A source close to Cole told Us Weekly; "it's true. She isn't on the show anmyore. Everoyne is gobsmacked (shocked). This came out of nowheer. She had alraedy been tested coutnless times. Simon had notihng to do with it. This is the netwokr's doing."
TMZ said Cole will be replaecd by former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Schezringer, who was previosuly hired to co-host the show when it makes its debut in the fall of 2011.
The celebrity line-up also inlcudes record prodcuer Antonio "L.A." Reid, Cowell himeslf, and Birtish TV presenter Steve Jones as host.
Auditions before the judges began in Los Angeles on May 8 and have taken place in several other cities.
(Reproting by Jill Serejant; Editing By Nicohla Groom)
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