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George Shelley Responds To ‘Jealous’ Union J ‘Kicking Him Out’

Sadly, today’s sunny weather isn’t reflected in the world of celebrity, with Union J seemingly revealing that they’ve given I’m A Celebrity runner-up, George Shelley, the boot.

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Copyright [Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images]

George’s spokesperson has since responded to the news, calling the other bandmates - Jaymi Hensley, JJ Hamblett and Josh Cuthbert - ‘jealous’ and insisting his exit was a ‘mutual decision’.

The three remaining members, who originally auditioned on The X Factor as Triple J, told The Sun that it was George’s lack of commitment that led to them giving him an ultimatum.

Josh explained: “I wrote a really strong email. We basically gave him an ultimatum. It was, ‘You’re either in the band or you’re not’.

“George was in a position where he did the jungle, he came off it and his head space was different to ours. Using a sporting analogy, he wanted to turn up to the big matches but not turn up to training.”

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Copyright [Simon Earl/Splash News]

With the three-piece now looking for a replacement for George, Josh added: “I would much rather have someone who wants to do it and is committed to do it. I’m not going to lose any sleep over him not being in the band.”

Jaymi added that the situation had left him ‘heartbroken’ and ‘absolutely devastated’, and that it had been affecting his home life.

He explained: “It brings us down. When you turn up to something and the other person can’t be there, or they are turning up late. That makes you not love the project. One negative view can ruin it for everyone.

“I am bitter about things that have happened. He wasn’t putting his the full effort in. One member is not bigger than the band and we feel that there should be no member who is bigger than the project.”

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Copyright [Nigel Wright/ITV/REX Shutterstock]

A spokesperson for George has since hit back at the comments, telling Metro.co.uk: “It was a mutual decision for George to leave Union J so he could focus on his broadcasting and acting career. He is now a regular part of the Capital FM Breakfast Show, hosted the Brits Red Carpet Live and recently completed shooting on BBC3’s Murder in Successville.

“He is an utterly charming and hard working individual – not a diva in the slightest.

“The fact of the matter is that the other members of Union J are simply jealous he has achieved the start of an exciting new career and they have not. George had agreed to be totally magnanimous towards them, but unfortunately this has not been reciprocated.”

Union J finished fourth on The X Factor in 2012, and have since scored four top 10 singles and a top 10 album in the UK.

This morning (March 4, after all these comments), the band have released this statement on Facebook:

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Copyright [Facebook/Union J]