The finals of British TV talent show “Britain’s Got Talent” held Saturday were marred when a backing musician threw eggs at judge Simon Cowell during a performance.

The 30-year-old viola player, who was performing with a backing group for contestants Richard and Adam Johnson, abruptly broke away from the group and started pelting eggs at the music mogul. The smiling musician was hauled away by security soon after the stunt.

Criticism piled against the musician, decrying her for sabotaging the Johnson brothers’ performance in order to pull what many believed to be a publicity stunt.

“Oh dear, what a total pillock. She only made herself look a fool, hope she enjoyed her moment of infamy,” British TV personality Phillip Schofield said via Twitter

“I felt sorry for Richard & Adam Johnson having their chance at fame disrupted. XXX is either not right in the head or it was a publicity stunt,” a fan of the show posted online. The Johnson brothers finished third.

When asked why she pulled such a stunt, the musician told the British media, “I took a stand against people miming on TV,” against Cowell and against his “influence on the music industry.” It is unclear, however, why she decided to step in during a performance where the artists were clearly not lip synching, or “miming.”

The musician apologized to the Johnson brothers after the incident.

“I’ve never done anything like this before and in hindsight I have realized it was a silly thing to do,” she said.

A spokesperson for the talent show said it will not take further actions against the musician.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)