Simon Cowell has hit out at his fellow X factor judges for their negative comments about Danyl Johnson.

Last week Dannii commented on Danyl’s sexuality whilst Cheryl and Louis called him cocky and unlikebale.

“All three of them were messing with Danyl and I’m not having it,” he told the Daily Star. “Those three are more competitive than ever. They see Danyl as a big threat to them winning this competition.

“I know Dannii is not a spiteful or homophobic person and what she said was a joke. She was terribly upset afterwards because she knew she had done wrong. The joke fell flat and she ended up making a bit of an idiot of herself.”

He added: “Danyl’s sexuality is his own business. We have never spoken about it.”

“As for Louis and Cheryl, they attacked Danyl for being cocky and confident,” he said. “His confidence was the reason we loved him at auditions.

“You can’t tell someone you love them because they are confident on Show One and then knock them for it on Show Two. I have told him to control it but it is part of his character and charm.”