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George Shelley has hit back and slammed Union J after the boyband had claimed that they'd asked him to leave the group.
The former X Factor band told The Sun that they sent Shelley an email giving him an 'ultimatum' for his 'diva behaviour' - having launched a television career after appearing in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
"Using a sporting analogy, he wanted to turn up to the big matches but not turn up to training," said member Josh Cuthbert.
Jaymi Hemsley added: "I am absolutely devastated. This is taking up all my time and affecting my home life. I am bitter about things things that have happened. He wasn’t putting the full effort in.
"One member is not bigger than the band and we feel that there should be no member who is bigger than the project."
However, Shelley has now spoken out about his departure, claiming that it was a mutual decision and that the band are 'jealous'.
"It was a mutual decision for George to leave Union J so he could focus on his broadcasting and acting career," a spokeman said. "He is now a regular part of the Capital FM Breakfast Show, hosted the Brits Red Carpet Live and recently completed shooting on BBC3’s Murder in Successville.
"He is an utterly charming and hard working individual – not a diva in the slightest. ‘The fact of the matter is that the other members of Union J are simply jealous he has achieved the start of an exciting new career and they have not."
They added: "George had agreed to be totally magnanimous towards them, but unfortunately this has not been reciprocated."
Union J are now seeking a new member to replace him. The group were formed on the ninth series of X Factor in 2012. Since then, they've released two albums with another rumoured for release later this year.
Shelley recently made headlines when he came out to address his sexuality online.
