James Arthur, last year's "The X-Factor" winner, is now backtracking after allegedly slamming mega-popular boyfriend and "X-Factor" runner-ups One Direction, Sugarscape reports.
The 25-year old singer, who recently released his debut single "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You," is claiming that he has "nothing but respect" for the boys of One Direction after a snappy exchange with Tyler Lee, a 17-year old fan of the band. Arthur allegedly criticized the boyband's success and insulted the teen with a stream of direct messages on Twitter.
It all began when Arthur retweeted the message, "It's ironic that the lowest rating xfactor ever looks like to have produced its biggest star," referencing the season of "X-Factor" that One Direction appeared on. Fans were quick to respond, calling Arthur out on his seemingly passive aggressive retweet, one even adding, "Hate to be a buzz kill but one direction are the highest grossing artists around ATM - James is s**t x."
After Lee tweeted that One Direction was the biggest success to come out of the "The X-Factor," Arthur responded with the direct message: "One Direction don't sell records they are a marketing product. They sell t-shirts and dolls you moron."
Of course, Lee's direct messages from Arthur were screencapped and circulated quickly around the Twittersphere.
Lee was interviewed by the Sun, telling the British newspaper that Arthur's response to him was "very abusive," Metro U.K. reports.
When questioned about his behavior, however, Arthur told the newspaper that he has "nothing but respect" for One Direction, calling them "great lads." He also took to Twitter in an attempt to dispel the rumors that he was a One Direction hater.
Haha twitter rant attacking one direction..? Really?? The papers hate me lol I was argued with some know it all, I did not attack 1D #LOVE
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) September 19, 2013
"I like the 1D boys a lot they have been very supportive of me," Arthur tweeted. "I merely said they are a huge marketing super power.. Which they are.."
As Sugarscape points out, it's a bit ironic that Arthur would critique One Direction for being manufactured, as both artists are signed to the same label, SYCO, and rose to fame on the same "fame-making" machine television show.
