The next generation of boy bands is on the rise. December 10, or D10, was formed on Simon Cowell’s new series, “Simon Cowell: The Next Act”. Cowell chose each of the members out of a pool of over 1,000 during the show’s run. Each member displayed clear talent, and in the end, Cowell was unable to cut D10 down to four or five members. Instead, the band contains seven members aged 16-19 of English and Irish origin. D10 has just announced their first single; however, life for the band is not smooth sailing.
From left to right: John Fadare, Cruz Lee-Ojo, Nicolas Alves, Seán Hayden, Josh Oliver, Danny Bretherton, Hendrick Christofferson
D10 has already faced backlash from fans of One Direction (or 1D) and BTS. Army, as BTS’s fanbase is called, negatively reacted to a comment made by D10 member Cruz, in which he said BTS was “terrible.” Directioners are similarly up in arms because D10 seems to be a cheap copy of 1D, made by a money-hungry Cowell. D10’s TikToks are flooded with comments like “this is the group that thinks they can surpass BTS? 😭” and “it’s like they purchased one direction off shein”. The hate train has been slowing down, but there is no sign that it will completely stop any time soon. Additionally, D10’s name is indistinguishable from the name of the Scottish heavy metal band December 10th. The latter has invited Cowell’s company to “get in touch with [them] and [their] legal team.”
Much of this controversy could be attributed to poor management on Cowell’s end. The band members were not appropriately media-trained as the show was running, and they chose their own name without the guidance of anyone else. “Simon Cowell: The Next Act” also heavily focused on his own life and the trials and tribulations that come with being the most famous person ever (as he is portrayed). The show does not spend enough time getting to know the boys, and the way they were chosen is seen as inorganic compared to the formation of One Direction.
D10’s debut single is slated to release Jan 30, 2026. Titled “Run My Way,” the song’s style seems to be taking notes from One Direction’s success. “Run My Way” is a typical boy band pop song, with earworm melodies and repetitive lyrics to scream as loud as possible. So far, some commenters have claimed the song is too childish and generic, likening it to Kidz Bop. However, there is a fair share of fans affirming that “Run My Way” gives 2010 vibes in the best way possible. The band has also released an acoustic cover of “Bye Bye Bye” by NSYNC on YouTube.
It’s natural to compare D10 to their predecessor; nonetheless, judgment shouldn’t be cast without reason. The band is just starting out and has made its fair share of mistakes. December 10 will never be One Direction, but someday D10 could be a famous boy band in its own right.
