I can't say I'm 'shocked' at this campaign at all. XF&Co themselves have been manipulating the Christmas #1 for years by giving their artist a dedicated platform for weeks leading up to the chart & tweaking their single price & availability for that final push.
For them it's been like a game of Russian Roulette, people were bound to decide that enough was enough at some point. It's not the RATM supporters that placed an 18yo at the centre of it all and across many forums the majority actually support Joe as an 'artist'.
If he comes back when this is all over with a good track that's not straight off the back of a reality TV show, even another cover (but one that's actually old enough to warrant a cover), I might even consider buying it myself.
Merry Christmas all :)
*downloads* RATM again.