Loren Allred angered Britain's Got Talent fans tonight as she admitted winning the show would be "validating".
The singer's appearance on the show has come with criticism, after it was revealed Loren is the voice behind the iconic The Greatest Showman song, Never Enough, but in the film, Rebecca Ferguson lip-synced the lyrics.
As she performed her own original song tonight, she received high praise from the judges - but viewers tuning in from home were less than impressed with her comment, insisting she didn't "need" the £250,000 winnings.
Giving her verdict, Amanda said: "It was beautiful. Being known for a song that everyone knows must be so difficult."
Simon also defended her over the criticism she received.
"You have sung one of the most iconic songs of any movie soundtrack in the world. You were gutsy enough to come on this show. You could have sang a Greatest Showman song - that would have been an easy decision. You're an artist that should have a record label or be on Broadway or the West End. I'm thrilled you're in the final," he added.
However, fans at home were not as keen - and said they felt she shouldn't have been allowed in the final.
"Loren Allred is worth over $2 million, has over 3 million Spotify monthly listeners and is an American and yet has to Britain’s Got Talent to take someone else’s opportunity away from them. Make sure she doesn’t win. #BGT," one wrote.
A second added: "Loren Allred should not be on a talent show for amateurs as she has an unfair advantage over the others."
"i really do love loren allred but it would be unfair for someone with a net worth of $2m to win in my eyes #BGT," a third penned, with a fourth adding: "I don't care that Loren was on another show but why not say that?
"Why act like you're only known for your voice on Never Enough (which I love btw) when you've released your own singles, featured on Michael Buble's album, and toured with Andrea Bocelli? #BGT."
Loren had previously explained to The Mirror how she felt her faceless role in The Greatest Showman felt like a "shadow" over her.
"For me, BGT was about being able to go to the UK and for people to get to know me for me and not just a faceless voice in The Greatest Showman. It was an opportunity for me to be able to step out of The Greatest Showman’s shadow and be me," she said.
"It has allowed me to tell my own story, in my own words, and for me to introduce myself as Loren. Being in the final means everything – especially because it’s the British public who voted for me to get through."
Simon Cowell has defended the show over claims it is a "fix" that Loren made it into the final.
"I also know you got a bit of stick in the media saying, 'Well, you know it’s a fix because you’ve been on another show,'" he said, "Well that’s the whole point of shows like this, is that you give people a second chance."
In a response back to her critics, Loren has also said: "Even though I have spent a lot of years in the music industry, people don’t know who I am. Over all these years I’ve been fighting for my chance to be known and to make it."
