Former Westlife star Markus Feehily has claimed that pop mogul Simon Cowell "completely blanked" him in Barbados.
The 35-year-old singer, who releases his debut solo album on October 16, recalled walking past the X Factor judge, who failed to acknowledge Feehily.
Speaking to The Mirror, the Sligo man said: "I walked past Simon in Barbados at Christmas and he completely blanked me like he didn't recognise me."
Cowell signed Westlife back in 1998 and Louis Walsh was their manager up until they eventually disbanded in 2012. Subsequently, Feehily contemplated auditioning for The X Factor as a solo artist.
"There were people waiting with contracts to sign me up and go down the predictable route, but it's not what I wanted to do," he said. "At one pointing I was thinking, 'Should I go in for The X Factor as a solo artist?'
"For many obvious reasons I didn't do it as it probably would have been too close to home, conflict of interests - they probably wouldn't have allowed me.
"I would have had to dress up and put a mask on but if they didn't know my voice after Westlife... Although you never know with Simon. It was a fun thought for a time."
