Michelle Heaton uncovers feud with '00s pop star after 'harsh' comments

Michelle Heaton has shared details about her unexpected clash with a fellow singer from the early 2000s.

The Liberty X vocalist became emotional while recounting the band’s rivalry with Hear’Say, the victors of ITV's Popstars.

Just after coming second on the 2001 reality show, Michelle and her fellow members Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Jessica Taylor, and Kelli Young, formed a fresh group.

However, although they were friendly during the show, Michelle mentions: “From the very beginning, there was an intense rivalry.

“We were frequently put against each other in an industry we were learning to understand.”

This rivalry led to Michelle drifting apart from her former close friend Suzanne Shaw.

While speaking with Paul Brunson on his podcast We Need To Talk, Michelle confessed: “It was clear they didn't want us to succeed. It wasn't just the Hear’Say group, but also those around them.

“This likely caused members of Hear’Say to aggravate the situation in interviews, claiming they surpassed us and we were merely following in their shadow.

“It was very hurtful. We were unsure how to handle it. They didn’t seem like the people we encountered during auditions.

“All I wished was to reach out to Suzanne. She was someone I formed a strong bond with.. and I wanted to ask, ‘how is it going? What’s your experience?’

“I genuinely wanted to share our experiences. At no time did I feel like we were simply tagging along with their success.”