´óÏó´«Ã½

Simon Cowell has branded a Facebook campaign to get rock band Rage Against The Machine to Christmas number 1 as "cynical" and "stupid".

The online group, now with over half a million members, begun by music fan Jon Morter and his wife Tracy, urges its supporters to buy Killing In The Name instead of the forthcoming single from the winners of this year's X Factor series.

Speaking to NME Morter said: "We've nothing personal against him [Cowell] at all, we just do not want yet another Christmas chart-topper from that show again."

However, speaking at a press conference today Cowell retorted saying: "It's quite a cynical campaign geared at me which is actually going to spoil the party for these three [X Factor finalists]."

Cowell, who runs record label Syco, which releases the X Factor winners yet to be confirmed Christmas single added: "I also think it's incredibly dismissive of the people who watch and enjoy the show where they treat our audience as if they're stupid and I don't like that.

"I think the campaign is aimed directly at me, it's stupid. Me having a number 1 record at Christmas time is not going to change my life particularly.

"It does, however, change these guys' lives. We put this opportunity there so the winner of the X Factor gets the chance of having a big hit record."

However, media coverage has pointed out many ironies within the campaign.

Rage Against The Machine are signed to record label Sony - the same Cowell has an interest in - and the main lyrical theme protests "you won't do what you tell me".

Morter says he's aware adding: "For me it was the song that's important... I'm not fussed what label it happens to be on. This is supposed to be fun."