Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has been branded "fake as s**t" by one of her former 'X Factor' contestants.
Katie Waissel
The 'Only Human' singer mentored Katie Waissel on the 2010 series of the show but the 29-year-old hopeful insists she had to turn to the other judges for support as the former Girls Aloud singer was only interested in smoking and "staring at her diamonds".
Katie said: "I think she's just there for the money. People think I have this huge thing against Cheryl and granted, I do. I'm p***ed off for various reasons. If you ask me, she is as fake as s**t.
"I just think there's no substance to her. She can be very abrupt and rude. I don't think she's a very nice human.
"My advice to anyone who's going to be on the show would be to f***ing beg to get someone else as mentor.
"I told [Rita Ora] I hung out with Simon and Louis Walsh and Cheryl sat with her Benson & Hedges in her dressing room staring at her diamonds."
Katie - who is friends with new judges Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw - urged any contestants under Cheryl's mentorship to instead seek advice from show boss Simon Cowell.
Asked if she has any tips for this year's contestants, she told Star magazine: "Go and knock on Simon Cowell's door. His MI5 security may be a little scary, but bring him a pack of cigarettes and he'll be fine. Don't feel pressured into being Cheryl's b***h."
Despite not having chart success since she competed on the show, Katie claims she was approached to join the judging panel this year.
She said: "We were talking about it but it didn't make sense this year because I've been in hiding recording music for two years. But maybe I'll turn up for Simon's Judges' Houses..."
Tagged in Cheryl Tweedy Simon Cowell Katie Waissel