Simon Cowell has taken a swipe at former protégé Niall Horan, after his debut solo single charted at number nine.
The former One Direction singer recently unveiled his first offering as a solo artist, ‘This Town’, which charted inside the top 10 on Friday (7 October).
It seems that’s not enough for Simon, though, who has suggested that walking away his Syco record label is the reason why Niall’s single hasn’t hit the top spot.
He told the Daily Star: “He probably would have had a number one single if he’d stayed with me.
The music mogul even added: “Hashtag loyalty.”
That’s nice, Simon.
*cough* Louisa Johnson.
*cough* Fleur East.
*cough* Ben Haenow.
*cough* Reggie ‘N’ Bollie.
*cough* Fifth Harmony.
Simon isn’t the only one throwing shade at Niall, though, as the singer found himself in a rather uncomfortable radio interview last week, during which someone called in and told him “no one really cares” about his solo material.
Still, things are going pretty well for Niall since 1D went on their hiatus earlier this year.
In addition to his sports management company, he’s working with Greg Kurstin on his solo material, whose recent past credits include acts like Adele, Ellie Goulding, Years & Years and Katy Perry.
The rest of the group are similarly busy with their own projects, with Harry Styles having signed a solo music contract, ahead of his debut film appearance in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’.
Big Payno has also signed his own solo deal - and is very loved with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini - while Louis Tomlinson is thought to be working behind the scenes on a new musical project.