Tulisa Contostavlos has apologised for accusing Misha B of being a bully on 'The X Factor' - but she's denied her comments were racially motivated.
Tulisa Contostavlos
The 31-year-old singer made the comments in a new Instagram post, after Misha claimed 'X Factor' producers portrayed her as an "angry black girl" on the show in 2011.
Insisting her actions had "nothing to do with race", Tulisa said: "I didn't wake up and go, 'I want to cause some drama for Misha B because of the colour of her skin.' She did some things that I felt I needed to pull her up on.
"But please believe me when I tell you I do not have a racist bone in my body."
The former N-Dubz added: "I owe my life to black people and to black culture, from my career to the music I make, to my very being - who I am as a person."
Tulisa also voiced her support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
She said: "I hope that this movement can put an end to the centuries of oppression, abuse, racism and the corrupt system we are a part of. "
During the 2011 series, Tulisa - who mentored Little Mix - told Misha: "You being so feisty can come across quite mean."
She also advised Misha - who was diagnosed with PTSD after appearing on the show- to "put aside the attitude".
Misha claimed the comments came amid a calculated effort to portray her as a bully.
She recently said: "They saw an opportunity to tear down a black girl that came from a broken home and worked together to assassinate my character and to sabotage my career by orchestrating lies."
Meanwhile, an 'X Factor' spokesperson said: "We are currently looking into this matter and are reaching out to Misha to discuss the important issues she has raised.
"The welfare of contestants is our priority and we are committed to diversity and equality."
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