'X Factor' reject Daniel Evans has defended himself against tabloid reports, saying some of the things that were written about him "hurt".
Speaking after his eviction, Daniel said: "Of all things I heard that was the one that hurt me the most when someone said I was only progressing because of the death of my wife and I would never ever play on that story."
"But the reason I came into this competition is my wife had passed away and it was her wish. I only mentioned it because I was asked."
Daniel said that he was also upset about claims that he kept his two older children, from previous relationships, secret.
The singer said: "Right at the start, on my first audition it says 'Daniel father-of-three' and my daughter and my son's mother were there. So why people think I'm keeping them a secret I don't know. They were there."
"I would never make a secret of my children I'm proud of my kids, I love all my kids. My kids know I love them. I've got nothing to prove to them."
Daniel also said that he never thought he would actually win the show.
He said: "I couldn't honestly picture myself winning the show, and obviously now it's the case."
"Winning was never in my mind. I just dreamt of getting to the final. I was upsetting the odds every week by staying in. The public kept me there."
"To be honest, I didn't expect to get this far and every week when the public kept me in, it was best feeling in the world. Thanks to the public I got this far."
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