The X Factor's Christopher Maloney Comes Out As Gay

Christopher Maloney has revealed that he is gay in a magazine interview.

The 35-year-old crooner stayed tight-lipped about his love life during his controversial stint on the show last year, but has now admitted that he has been in a relationship for three years.

Asked directly if he is gay by Now magazine, he responded: "Do you know what, I'm going to admit it – yeah.

"Honestly, I've never denied it or anything like that.

"It's just that with the show it was always an inappropriate time or people just asked inappropriate questions."

He denied keeping quiet about his sexuality because he was scared of losing votes.

"I didn't speak about my love life because I didn't want my partner to be dragged through this.

"It wasn't to gain votes or anything like that."

But he revealed that his appearances on The X Factor's live tour had put a strain on his relationship.

"It's been tough. I've got to admit it – it's been really tough. But we are still together.

"It isn't that I've changed but the people around me have changed. It's hard to deal with."

But he said he hoped it would make things better for them both.

"We've been together for three years. The tour and everything else is only to make a better life for us.

"I've tried to say that to my partner – I'm not just doing this for me. I was always unhappy when I was doing my call centre job, just sitting at my desk."

And he admitted that he had struggled to cope after the show ended - with him in third position.

"Yes, I had a breakdown. I went home the Monday after the show finished and a psychologist came to see me.

"I wasn't struggling because I was a sore loser, but because of all I'd had to endure. It was hard to keep a grasp of reality."

You can read the full interview in the current edition of Now magazine, which is out today.

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