Singer Lily Allen has attacked music mogul Simon Cowell and his British television show 'The X Factor' in a series of online rants.

The 'Smile' hitmaker made it clear she is not fond of Cowell's grip on the television music competition genre, insisting the programme embodies everything 'I detest about modern western culture', reports contactmusic.com.

'X factor - FAIL. Too set up/scripted in my humble opinion. I don't know how Simon Cowell has managed to get away with essentially copywriting (sic) the talent contest. It's beyond me, really,' she posted on Twitter.

And when one fan questioned her opinion, she angrily replied: 'It's everything that I detest about modern western culture. Cowell is the only one who really benefits. People like you eat it up.'

Another follower asked if Allen's hatred of the show stems from not being asked to sit on the judging panel alongside her former celebrity enemy Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh, as well as Cowell.

She wrote: 'I've better things to do with my time than feed the nation with the notion that doing cover versions will sort your life out.'