X Factor star Matt Terry – who came out as gay on Friday – has apologized to his first love for keeping him a secret while on the show.
The singer, 30, was the winner of the 13th series back in 2016 and went on to release a debut album called Trouble after beating Saara Aalto.
In a new interview with Gay Timesrevealed Matt that during his time in the competition he kept his romance with the first man he fell in love with a secret.
Almost a decade after his hidden love, the personality has now penned an apology to his former lover in his new song, His Car.
‘I’m very proud (of my sexuality) and I’m no longer afraid,’ Matt shared.
X Factor star Matt Terry – who came out as gay on Friday – has apologized to his first love for keeping him a secret while on the show
During his time on the ITV competition, the public speculated that the singer had a fling with co-star Freddy Parker (left), but he denied the claims
Yet that wasn’t always the case as he reflected on his romance during The X Factor: ‘I said to him, “You’re not allowed to tell anyone about this” and he loved me enough to do it. It’s such a regret of mine, and I’m just really sorry.’
Matt has yet to confirm who the song is about or who he dated during the popular singing competition.
However, the public speculated that the singer had a spark with fellow contestant Freddy Parker, who has not publicly declared their sexuality.
Matt was forced to deny any romance during his time on the show after fans thought they had a kiss when he was announced as the winner.
At the time, he was quoted as driving home his sexual orientation during post-X Factor interviews, claiming he ‘didn’t think’ he and Freddy locked lips and that fans were simply ‘carried away’.
‘I’m a straight guy. I want to have fun and meet people,’ he shared Daily Mirrorand he elaborated The sun that since day one, (Freddy and I are) just brothers, man. We have such a bromance going on – no relationship, I’m afraid of guys, I’m sorry to say. Sorry man.
‘Now I want to set the record straight with this song and video. I know… People are going to say, ‘Is this news?’. I’ve been hiding who I was and I haven’t really opened up. I never let anyone in.’
The singer called himself a hypocrite in the new release and admitted that while his former lover was happy to tell his parents about Matt, he couldn’t do the same and hid his sexuality away from his parents.
He was forced to deny any romance during his time on the show after fans thought they had a kiss when he was announced as the winner
Matt also shared intimate details about his former flame, saying he ‘used to kiss him in the back of his car’.
Opening his heart in the tune, he sang that he was ‘sorry for every lie’ and that he keeps wishing he could go back in time to apologize as he revealed that he told the lover that ‘ go and bury his heart’.
The heartfelt song showed the raw and vulnerable side of his secret affair as he said in the first verse: ‘I can’t believe how long I lived like this’.
Matt’s debut single, When Christmas Comes Around, which was released on 11 December 2016, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.
The former waiter said he went on The X Factor with just £4 in his bank account and had no idea how his sexuality would come under so much scrutiny.
Matt said he was asked by his former manager but refused to give an answer and ultimately decided to take a step back from the limelight.
The singer scored two top 10 singles after The X Factor but was told by email that he would be dropped by his record label, RCA.
‘I came out of the business privately and a lot of people have been like, ‘Where have you been?’ I have discovered who I am as a person and an artist. I’m the one taking back control. I love the person I have discovered in myself, and I hope I can do the same for other people.’
Matt said he is now happy with a partner his family has welcomed.
“I now live with an open mind and an open heart, and I feel that we should all live by the statement that we all say: love is love,” he added.
Almost a decade after his hidden love, the personality has now written an apology to his former lover in his new song, His Car (pictured in the video with an actor)