Almost 10 years on from an X Factor performance, Cheryl has spoken about the rude comment Simon Cowell made to her just moments before she performing her debut solo single.
The singer has said the minutes before she took to the stage to perform Fight For This Live live on ITV were amongst the most nerve-wracking of her life.
The performance was to an audience of millions on X Factor in 2009, but she claims fellow judge Simon Cowell did little to ease her worries.
Instead, he made a spiky remark which clearly left a lasting impression, The Mirror reports.
Speaking to the BBC, Cheryl recalled the incident, which occurred backstage before her performance.
"It was my first solo performance, on a show I was working on as a judge, and then, half an hour before I went on stage Simon [Cowell] said some dodgy things. Like, 'Remember Cheryl, you've done this to yourself," she said.
"I don't know if he was giving me something to fight against, like 'I'll prove you b***hes wrong,' or if he was simply saying, 'I don't know why you put yourself through this.' I'll have to ask him.
"He's changed a lot since he's had a baby, so he might feel a bit bad these days."
As it turned out, the Geordie singer didn't need to worry, as her first solo hit debuted at number one in the UK and Ireland.
It also topped the Singles Charts in Norway, Hungary and Demark, and landed a BRIT award for Best British Single.
However, more recently her single Love Made Me Do It failed to take off as triumphantly, debuting at number 19 in the UK Singles Chart.
The hit, which was released in November last year, only stayed in the top 40 for week before dwindling.
Cheryl will be hoping for success like she achieved in 2009 with her new tune, Let You, which was released yesterday.
