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BATTLE OF THE BAND

Furious Union J hit back at Josh Cuthbert after he announces he’s quit the band

UNION J have slammed Josh Cuthbert for quitting the group after seven years together.

Josh - who married wife Chloe Lloyd earlier this year - has decided to leave the group to pursue his modelling career and radio presenting gigs.

 Josh Cuthbert has quit Union J to focus on his own projects
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Josh Cuthbert has quit Union J to focus on his own projectsCredit: Rex Features
 The original line up of Union J formed on the X Factor
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The original line up of Union J formed on the X FactorCredit: Getty Images - Getty

However, the remaining boy band members, Jaymi Hensley and JJ Hamblett, are not happy.

The Where Are You Now hitmakers posted a statement on their Twitter account to air their disappointment shortly after Josh's announcement.

The since-deleted upload read: "This statement should have come to you as a joint statement.

"Sadly once again that decision was taken into ones personal matters."

 George Shelley was replaced by Casey who has since left leaving just Jaymi and JJ
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George Shelley was replaced by Casey who has since left leaving just Jaymi and JJCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Union J's Josh Cuthbert reveals his favourite thing about being in the band

However, the remaining duo have insisted there is no bad blood between them and Josh.

The statement continued: "There is no beef whatsover, things should have just been handled differently."

This was then followed by a separate tweet to follow, which read: "Not cool."

However, Josh did consult the band - who formed on X Factor in 2012 - about his decision to leave.

 Union J posted a statement on their Twitter account following the news, which has since been deleted
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Union J posted a statement on their Twitter account following the news, which has since been deletedCredit: Twitter
 Josh Cuthbert wants to pursue his music, presenting gigs and modelling
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Josh Cuthbert wants to pursue his music, presenting gigs and modellingCredit: Getty - Contributor

Announcing the news in an exclusive interview with The Sun, Josh said: “To be successful you have to dedicate all of your time to it, and to be completely honest, I just don’t have the time as much as I used to, to dedicate everything and all of my time to the band and I feel that’s unfair to the rest of the guys.

“We’ve had some brilliant times and I don’t want to be in something half-hearted.

“I spoke to them on the phone and I just hope that they support me, I want to stay friends with the boys, I love them.

"They’ve been a part of my life for years, literally years. I don’t really remember my life before the band."

X Factor judges house: Union J

Josh also publicly declared the news on social media with a statement of his own, which read: "My journey with Union J has been one to remember, and something I will cherish forever.  But, after seven years, I feel like now is the right time for me to leave the band.

"I'd like to apologise to my incredible fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right for me. I have decided to leave, because I want to continue to develop my individual opportunities across entertainment and music.

"I have so many beautiful memories with them and have friends for life in the boys and wish Jaymi and JJ all the best for the future."

Josh's departure comes two years after George Shelley quit in 2016, despite being replaced by Casey Johnson who left just 12 months after.


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