Joe McElderry claps back at cruel troll accusing him of gaining weight
Joe McElderry responded to a keyboard warrior after they commented on his appearance in a clip of him dancing to his new track, Love Me Out Loud.
The X Factor's Joe McElderry has hit back at a troll who accused him of gaining weight.
The 35-year-old star - who won the ITV singing competition in 2009 - was met with a harsh comment after he recently posted a clip of himself dancing to his new track, Love Me Out Loud, on Facebook.
One cruel user posted a GIF of the Austin Powers character, Fat B******, saying: "I can't stop eating," and the keyboard warrior added: "Piling the wieght back on aren't ya (sic)."
Joe wasted no time in replying: "Aye huge Nick. Also it's spelt weight! I before e expect after C. (sic)"
The Climb performer posted a screenshot of the troll's comment and GIF on Instagram, as Joe begged them to "LET PEOPLE LIVE" and added he feels "the fittest I’ve been in a very long time" in the post's caption.
Joe penned: "Why are we still having conversations about people’s bodies… from complete strangers? It’s such an odd thing to me.
"I suppose you can’t have all the positives of social media without some of the negatives, and I know I’m very lucky to have had such a positive experience online over the years. Somehow, I’ve managed to stay pretty level-headed through it all… NO IDEA how!
"But I suppose the point of this post is really for the younger generation. Please stop this kind of negativity online. Comments about people’s bodies can be so damaging and only create a horrible narrative across social media. (sic)"
The entertainer continued: "For the record, I feel the fittest I’ve been in a very long time. I’m happy, I’m healthy, and not that I owe anyone an explanation… but as I said last week: LET PEOPLE LIVE.
"I’m absolutely fine! I can take it with a pinch of salt. But not everyone can, and that’s why it’s important we all try to create a bit more positivity online.
"Anyway… have a lush day, everyone. (sic)"
Joe has used his past relationship breakdowns to inspire his latest track, Love Me Out Loud.
It captures the messy push-and-pull of falling for the wrong person, set against a "thumping dance disco beat" that lifts the heartbreak.
He wants the tune to encourage people to cope with heartbreak by dancing through the pain.
Joe told Contactmusic.com: "It’s about loving and loss and the emotions we all go through.
"Sometimes people feel vulnerable after a breakup and feel lost and don’t know where to turn. It’s leaning into that message that love and heartbreak and relationships can be messy, but it’s all part of the journey of life.
"With this song, we want people to dance away the heartbreak. If you can give yourself a dance and an anthem to get yourself through it, that’s what we’re trying to give people."
Love Me Out Loud is out now on all streaming platforms.
