13 March 2024 , 09:28
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When two confident Irish 17-year-olds with big hair first strolled onto The X Factor stage back in 2008, they instantly charmed Louis Walsh as he hailed them as "looking like popstars" despite Simon Cowell dubbing them "not very good and incredibly annoying".
However, 16 years later, Jedward and Louis' relationship has turned very sour - with the former judge branding them "vile", while twins John and Edward Grimes hit back calling him a "cold-hearted b****" and a "senile old man". So how did their relationship go so wrong?
Following their first audition in front of Cheryl, Dannii Minogue, Louis and Simon, the duo were given a chance and sent through to the next round. After being placed in the groups category with Louis, they finished sixth and were initially signed with Modest! Management, but Louis was later said to have reached an "amicable agreement" which had allowed him to take them on.
Jedward went on to perform on the X Factor Live tour and released their debut mashup single Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby), which involved Vanilla Ice on the guest vocals. After their contract ended with Sony, Universal Music Ireland signed them for three albums and they began their first solo tour - Planet Jedward - in 2010. The tour was extended due to popular demand and they released a cover of Blink-182's All The Small Things.
Jeward also saw Eurovision success, performing twice in the contest on back-to-back years from 2011 with singles Lipstick and Waterline, with the former resulting in Ireland finishing in the top 10 for the first time in five years and the highest position for the country in 11 years.
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Louis Walsh branded Jedward 'vile'At Eurovision in 2011, Louis was asked what he thought about them and he said: "I took a chance on them on X Factor everybody told me I was crazy but who's laughing now? They're laughing and now everybody's laughing. They've opened up a whole new continent on Jedwardmania. They are what they are and they're really nice kids and good role models."
In 2012 they ran part of the Summer Olympics torch relay in Dublin and starred in a number of their own TV shows, including Jedward's Weird Wild World on Channel 5, RTE's OMG! Jedward's Dream Factory and CBBC's Jedward's Big Adventure. Over the years they were also involved in a number of charity projects, including Children in Need, Comic Relief and performing at the ChildLine Concert from 2010 to 2013.
Like Louis, they starred on Celebrity Big Brother - in 2011, when they finished third to Paddy Doherty and Kerry Katona, and in the famously chaotic 2017 'All Stars vs New Stars' series, in which they finished second to Coleen Nolan.
Walsh represented them for four years before their mother Susanna Condron took over as their manager in 2013. Then in 2016 their relationship went from estranged to bitter when Jedward launched a furious response at Walsh after he described their act as "the most embarrassing thing to happen to him".
The outspoken music mogul said the most embarrassing moment of his career was "working with Jedward and putting them through on The X Factor" and the boys came out swinging in their defence.
"I think we are the most financially beneficial act of his career in the last 10 years," Edward fumed. John added: "I don't think he took us under his wing. I think we were already flying and he was like, 'Oh I think I want a part of that. I think he got old. It's like someone saying behind your back and you are like, 'wait, I didn't know there was a problem.'"
Jedward hit back at Louis' claims (Equinox/REX/Shutterstock)
Gemma Collins stood up for the boys (Instagram/ @gemmacollins)Despite bad-mouthing their time together, last night CBB viewers heard Louis brag he "got five million quid for them" before claiming they were "vile." The sudden outburst prompted reality TV star and good friend of Jedward Gemma Collins to hit back and warn "not to slag off [her] boys". Meanwhile the siblings claimed that they had only met him four times in their career.
"You're like a cat with nine lives, how many times can you slag off your acts?" Jedward fumed. "Girls Aloud, Ronan Keating, Boyzone - you're an absolute disgrace. You're a senile old man who did nothing for us, who had no ideas. Not even a manager! Simon Cowell made you who you are."
They went on to claim that Louis had never been their manager, claiming he never sent them flowers and "disrespected [their mum] multiple times". The boys' mum Susanna Grimes tragically died in 2019 after struggling with cancer and health problems for many years.
"They all hate you", Jedward raged of the other acts Louis had managed over the years. "You only have boybands to make it look like you're doing something with your life when you're a bitter old man - nothing against old people but you're obviously..."
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Gemma added: "We know so much that happened to the boys, we could tell you so much." Jedward added: "We've had to put up with a lot of s***... all [Louis] wants is money, money, money... he tried to keep us in check, kept us burnt out, had us here, had us there, had us everywhere. It was absolutely ridiculous, there was no plan."
They added: "No one has a good word to say about him, everyone's watching the show gobsmacked. Simon Cowell helped him launch Westlife, saying s*** about him! You just can't do that to friends and people that have given you a chance."
Afterwards, Gemma posted an Instagram picture with the boys and wrote: "Shocked to see what was said about my boys @jepicpics They are the sweetest talented polite educated kind boys I’ve ever met hence why they are always in my company !!! TEAM JEDWARD #jedward #jepic." While Jedward wrote back: "Gemma Thank you for your Love and support and keeping us calm in this crazy situation! You’re a true friend."
Later in the hot tub at her home with Jedward, Gemma asked: "One thing we want to know Louis is where is the five mill? Because the boys didn't get it! So let's open the books and find it."