’X Factor’ contestants 5 After Midnight have insisted they are very supportive of Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Liam Payne, after their mentor Louis Walsh got caught up in a feud with the One Direction star.
It all started when HuffPost UK interviewed Louis and the boys at an ‘X Factor’ red carpet event on Thursday (8 December), and he told us to “fuck off” when we asked about Cheryl potentially returning to the show.
His behaviour towards us sparked Liam - who is dating Cheryl - to hit back on Twitter, telling him to “shut the fuck up for once”.
As 5 After Midnight then made an appearance on ‘Lorraine’ on Friday morning, a reporter quizzed them on the controversy.
Band member Kieran Alleyne backed Cheryl and Liam, saying: “I feel like Louis is Louis. Louis will do what he does.
“We really support them - Cheryl and Liam and their baby situation. I know how that feels, I’ve got a baby on the way myself. It’s an amazing situation, we really support them, and yeah, Louis is just doing Louis.”
During the exchange with Louis, he spat at us: “Simon wouldn’t invite Cheryl back because we have Nicole. We have Nicole and Sharon - we don’t need another girl. So go and fuck off now. No silly questions, seriously.”
The music manager then whacked the microphone that was being used to record the interview, before adding: “It’s not about Cheryl. Don’t be stupid man.”
Louis and Cheryl have a long and complicated history and have traded many public blows since he was Girls Aloud’s manager, following their time on ‘Popstars: The Rivals’ in 2002.
The pair appeared to have called a truce during their last stint on the show together in 2014, but he reignited their feud when he made a series of catty comments about her and Rita Ora upon his return earlier this year.
5 After Midnight will be going up against Matt Terry and Saara Aalto in this weekend’s grand finale, with Saara currently the bookies’ favourite to take the crown.
‘The X Factor’ final airs on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm on ITV, while ‘Lorraine’ airs weekdays from 8.30am on ITV.