As the final 12 was being decided, one singer was being bombarded with hateful messages. And as Pippa Garder reports, the attacks were over nothing.

Briden Star has a pretty thick skin for a twenty-year-old.

But when taunts on twitter turned to death threats she cracked.

Threats such as "I want to cut your eyeballs out of your head."

All because of a harmless wink at One Direction heart-throb Harry Stiles.

"To be honest I didn't even wink at him, I just "who were you winking at?" to be honest I didn't look at the One Direction boys once because I would get so nervous," said Briden.

Music legend Molly Meldrum says attention good and bad - is something the X Factor class of 2012 has to get used to.

"Somehow get a thick skin and take it on the chin and don't worry about it," said Molly Meldrum.

For the top 12, making it big in the music industry was just pie in the sky, five short weeks ago.

Next stop on the road to stardom, the live shows and their chance to show Australia they've got the X Factor.

Johnny Ruffo says there’s plenty of potential: “I think the top 12 are incredible as much as I don't want to say it, the talent is better than last year. That's a big call. Yeah yeah I don't want to say it but I am an honest guy."

The pressure is intense.

Nerves got the better of Bella at Bootcamp.

"How do you think you're going to go singing up on stage the remembering all the words?” Bella was asked.

“I think much better because now that there is only 3 in each categories our mentors can focus on us and I have more time to practice and I'm feeling happy about live shows I don't really feel nervous about it," said Bella.

The What About Tonight boys have been hailed as One Direction hair apparents .

But can they do the flick?

"Now is the real test because the harshest critics are the public," said Molly.

It’s a top 12 shot Briden would love to be in. She hopes those that are won’t be taunted by the trolls.

"I really hope that they're strong and they remember these people are just keyboard warriors, because everyone in that top 12 deserves to be there," said Briden.

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