[Jordan.]

James Arthur has hit out at Simon Cowell after reports that a character in the X Factor musical I Can't Sing! is based on the 26-year-old.

The singer posted a link to a tabloid article, which claimed that the villain in the show - a hunchback called Trevor Modo - was inspired by Arthur.

The character, who performs a defiant rap song in the musical, is said to have been rewritten following Arthur's controversial Twitter rap last year.

Arthur tweeted the link and directly addressed Cowell, saying: "@SimonCowell I should "shut up and put out records" or else this?"

He added: "Cue more media bullying."

Although the musical was not written by Cowell, the Syco boss acts as a producer and the show's star Nigel Harman recently admitted that Cowell only changed two words of the script.

Earlier this month, Cowell commented on Arthur's recent behaviour, suggesting that the former X Factor champion should have been told to "shut up".

He said: "I think James, unfortunately, has had so many issues with what he has done publicly - which is a real issue with me.

"Somebody should have told him to shut up and just put the records out."

A rapping hunchback, the shade.

but good at him making it even more sure he's gonna get dropped