James Arthur has reportedly been fired from Simon Cowell's record label Syco due to claims that his new song contains lyrics which glamorise terrorism.
Following a turbulent few months, reports suggest that after releasing just one album with the music mogul's label, 26-year-old James has now been dropped as his song Follow the Leader features lyrics that promote terrorism, while some of his other new tracks contain explicit language and references to drug taking.
James took to Twitter in an attempt to clear up confusion about his music. "The song 'follow the leader' from the mixtape is not promoting terrorism, it's a story, a reciting of a Stan Esc letter from a demented fan," wrote James, alluding to Eminem's 2000 song in which he raps about obsessive fans.
A source told The Sun, however, that Syco feel that James has gone too far this time.
James Arthur publicly dumps PR team – and compares himself to 'exploited' killer whale
"He's blown it now," said the source. "James was given a lot of special treatment that no other artist signed to a record label like Syco would get. It's a very sad and messy way for this to all end."
James's reported firing comes two weeks after he publically dismissed his PR representatives on Twitter and appealed to fans to apply for the job.
The 2012 X Factor winner left Twitter last year after a string of controversial incidents and spats, only for his management team to take over his account.
James was unhappy with their representation – in particular, the use of the hashtag #LOVE – and decided to take matters into his own hands.
"HQ please stop writing things like 'we think you would #LOVE this and that' or 'everybody #GETDOWN and buy this..' It's embarrassing," he wrote. He then took a swipe at Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts, tweeting, "Stick to promoting Paul Potts please. Thanks. #LOVE."
James then added, "This job is now going to an actual fan. Who wants the HQ job? #LOVE."The Middlesbrough-born star also invited his followers to design the album cover for his upcoming mixtape, All The World’s A Stage.
"Seeing as though I'm doing this for the fans and I'm not charging for it I would like you to design the front cover," he said.
He then explained that he wanted the artwork to feature the orca whale Tilikum, the subject of anti-SeaWorld documentary Blackfish, who has been linked to three deaths while in captivity.
"Ideally I'd like him to be attacking a crowd of people, lashing out after being exploited," he wrote. "Include my name and the title of the mixtape."
