“We have never, nor would we ever, use Auto-Tuning during the American Idol competition.”

That statement from Idol producers was prompted by the unfolding Auto-Tune X Factor scandal, which is taking on gargantuan proportions in the British press.

Auto-Tune is a pitch-altering technology used to make singers sound perfectly in tune. Auto-Tune has been used by many famous performers during live concerts and recording sessions, and it has also been used by British reality singing competition The X Factor. Producers of the show admitted as much in recent statements, though they have denied using the technology during live events.

Judge Simon Cowell left American Idol to bring The X Factor to American shores. Cowell’s production company has been behind the Factor since its inception, though he has publicly denied knowledge of Auto-Tuning during the show and demanded that his production team re-edit the current season of the series.