Rachel Crow did not make The X Factor semifinals because Nicole Scherzinger decided to send the vote on saving either her or Marcus Canty into Deadlock when she could have cast the final vote to save Rachel.

After the fact, Rachel’s mentor, Simon Cowell, spoke to reporters this week saying, “I think it’s quite clear that it’s down to three people now. And it’s Melanie, Josh and Chris.”

Despite his repeated bottom two finishes and Simon’s lack of confidence in him as a contender, Canty still remains hopeful about his chances to win the competition and the $5M prize. “For me to think for one second in my mind that I don’t deserve to be here will be killing myself,” he says. “This is my dream too. No matter what people think, I’m up here. This is my dream. And that’s why I keep fighting to make it to the top.”