A huge spat has broken out between One Direction singer Liam Payne and Louis Walsh, after the X Factor judge launched into a tirade about the singer's girlfriend, Cheryl.
Walsh was being quizzed by a reporter about whether or not she might be returning to the X Factor next year as a judge.
"Simon wouldn't invite Cheryl back because we have Nicole (Scherzinger). "We have Nicole and Sharon. We don't need another girl. So go and f**k off now," he said before adding for good measure "It's not about Cheryl, stupid man."
Walsh was taking questions with boyband 5 After Midnight at a media event ahead of this weekend's X Factor final.
The Mayo man and Cheryl have a notoriously fraught relationship and Walsh had previously said that he wouldn't return to the show if she was asked back, saying "She's okay, but she doesn't give me the fun that Sharon gives me or Nicole gives me."
Following Louis' outburst, Payne hit back with an angry rant on twitter.
"Congratulations Louis Walsh for setting the worst example on handling media for his band who are about to step into a very hard industry," he wrote.
"Maybe it's about time you realise it's not all about you and shut the f**k up for once, let them speak."
Maybe it's about time you realise it's not all about you and shut the fuck up for once, let them speak
— Liam (@LiamPayne) December 9, 2016
Former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl has not commented on reports that she and Payne are expecting their first child.
The celebrity couple were recently pictured stepping out at an event in London, where Cheryl appeared to be sporting a baby bump.
The two first met when Payne appeared as a 14-year-old contestant on The X Factor in 2008 when she was a judge on the show.
At the time she defended Payne after criticism from Cowell and told him: "I like you. I think you're really cute - I think you've got charisma, you know, you gave us that cheeky wink”.
