Louis Walsh's sour fallouts with his acts - Westlife, Ronan Keating and Cheryl

13 March 2024 , 09:27

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Louis Walsh left fans aghast when he accused Jedward, of being "vile" on last night's Celebrity Big Brother.

The 71-year-old managed Irish twins John and Edward Grimes, 32, after they shot to fame on the X Factor in 2009. However, in a jaw-dropping revelation he accused the duo of being nothing more than a "novelty", despite claiming to have made £5million out of the Under Pressure stars.

With decades of music managing experience under his belt, Louis has worked with a host of big names, including Ronan Keating and Girls Aloud. However, he's also been involved in a number of sour fallouts with his acts, including Dublin four-piece, Westlife...

Westlife

Westlife have previously claimed their boss Louis made their lives hell and was constantly threatening to axe them - even though they appear to be on good terms now.

Back in 2010, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden, who formed Westlife in 1998, revealed in their early days the Irishman constantly threatened them with the chop and would call them "fat". Kian said: "We lived in fear of Louis. He was like 'You're done. I'm going to kick you out of the band. I'm going to put you on the next plane home. Only four people can fit in a taxi, not five'."

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Louis Walsh's sour fallouts with his acts - Westlife, Ronan Keating and Cheryl

Westlife proved a massive hit for manager Louis Walsh (MAXWELL/REX/Shutterstock)

While Nicky added: "Louis was always on at you. The first thing he'd say was, 'Your teeth are fecking terrible'. I remember saying once, 'Your teeth are f*****g horrible too'." Shane agreed, saying the early days were "f*****g horrendous". He continued: "Louis would say 'You look fat. Watch yourself, there are only three Bee Gees."

Despite all the abuse, the Westlife boys forgave Louis for how he treated them at the start. During his stint on the X Factor, Shane said: "Oh we're all fond of Louis. Simon's now doing to him what he did to us, so he's gone and got everything done. His hair's browner, and his teeth are whiter." Louis also spoke fondly of the band this week, telling his Celebrity Big Brother housemates: "Westlife never let me down, they're still working, they're great."

Cheryl

Louis managed Girls Aloud between 2002 and 2004 after they shot to fame on Pop Stars: The Rivals. However, he didn't always gel with Fight For This Love star Cheryl after he told Ekin-Su on Celebrity Big Brother: “I didn’t always get on with her.”

Louis admits he doesn't get on with Cheryl

The County Mayo-born star was famously at loggerheads for more than a decade with the diminutive Geordie after he infamously branded Girls Aloud "fat". In 2010, he compared the singer to a peacock, accusing Cheryl of believing the ITV series was “her show” and taunted her on-air for looking orange.

Cheryl hit back at the time, saying: “Louis is a silly old man looking for attention.” The following year, she claimed the businessman only “took the cheques” when he managed Girls Aloud, sparking the Irishman’s retort: “I am a much better manager than she is a singer."

Asked about his relationship with Cheryl now that Girls Aloud are making a comeback, Louis said in December: "I don't have a relationship with Cheryl, I don't bother. I haven't seen her, I haven't heard from her. We didn't get on great on X Factor because she didn't get the fun of it. She didn't understand that side of it."

Ronan Keating

Louis managed Boyzone, which included Ronan, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy, and Shane Lynch and the late Stephen Gately, before working with Ronan as as a solo artist - until they went their separate ways, creatively.

The former X Factor judge has admitted he doesn't like the Rollercoaster star, previously blasting Ronan as a "little manufactured pop star, who actually believed his own publicity". When asked whether he thought the singer would be a good fit for Bond amid the search for Daniel Craig's replacement. Louis said: "He's not good enough to be James Bond. You know what, there's nobody better... he'd put himself forward, that's one thing about him!"

He accused Ronan of being a 'prick' (Ken McKay/Talkback Thames/REX/Shutterstock)

This isn't the first time there have been harsh words between the pair. Despite working together for years, Louis lashed out at his former protege during an interview with Q Magazine in 2012, labelling Ronan "talentless and spoiled". Claiming the fame went to his head, Louis slammed the star, raging: "His head got turned by having nice hotels and chauffeur-driven cars, and he thought he could write songs. If you're Ronan Keating, who was working in a shoe shop when I discovered him, but end [up] thinking you're George Michael, then you need to be stopped."

He also let rip at Ronan on Celebrity Big Brother as the father-of-three's song played in the house. Rolling his eyes, Louis commented: “Great song" before grumbling: “He was such a p***k.” Confiding in 71-year-old Sharon Osbourne, he went on: “Everybody thinks he’s a lovely guy, do you know what I mean?” He hasn’t had a hit record since I left. He sacked me?!”