Ellie Goulding has issued a statement on Twitter about what she is referring to as 'BRIT t*t gate'.
The award-winning singer, 36, stunned at the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, as she wore an eye-catching black armoured plate with sculpted breasts.
Ellie's choice of outfit certainly caught the attention of singer Tom Grennan, 27, who made a controversial comment about the Love Me Like You Do hitmakers ensemble - prompting a huge backlash online.
As Tom and Ellie took to the stage at the O2 Arena to present an award, Tom couldn't resist asking if they were her real breasts.
The Starry Eyed singer remained calm and joked she wished they were and hers are much further apart, but viewers watching at home quickly took to social media to fume about Tom's quip.
But writing on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, Ellie defended Tom and claimed the Remind Me singer meant no harm when joking on stage.
The mum-of-one tweeted: "A word on Brit/ t*t gate … I was wearing a beautiful breastplate, thank you all for appreciating it ;)
"My friend @Tom_Grennan is 100% an ally and we were having a bit of fun. No offence taken, no harm intended- and no other interpretations necessary x."
Ellie's fans were divided on the singer's statement - with some arguing Tom's joke wasn't appropriate for a show being broadcast on national TV.
"Normalising men making unwanted, uncouth and suggestive comments about women’s bodies ain’t the one. Great that it was jokes for you two but it’s setting a bad example," one Twitter user told Ellie on Sunday.
Another argued: "I’m glad you didn’t take offence, it did seem offensive when he said it, a lot of viewers noticed, Even though you say Tom is having fun. I think it’s a time & place for it not on national TV as a lot of viewers has disliked the comment made mainly woman.
"Pick your words wisely I say. X."
However, others agreed with Ellie.
One BRIT Awards viewer told the star: "Thank you Ellie for saying this my friend was having a go at me for defending what Tom said ! They aren’t a friend Any more for sure I will always have his back as he’s a lovely kind guy."
Another wrote: "As long as it was all done in jest and you were perfectly fine that's all that matters!"
Tom has addressed the backlash as well, apologising to anyone who was offended. Retweeting Ellie's statement, he said: "Love ya @elliegoulding What started as a joke between Ellie and I before we went on stage came out all wrong.
"The nerves got the better of us, but that does not excuse what was said, and I sincerely apologise to anyone who was offended - that’s not me at all, and I am sorry x."
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