Janet Devlin on what Louis Walsh was really like on X Factor after Jedward's scathing attack
X Factor star Janet Devlin has revealed what Louis Walsh is really like, weeks after Jedward launched a scathing attack on the Celebrity Big Brother star.
The 29 year old shot to fame with her haunting cover of Elton John's Your Song back in 2011, when Louis was a judge on the hit ITV show.
During his stint in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Louis made some disparaging comments about Jedward, who hit back by branding him a "snake".
However, speaking exclusively to OK!, Janet revealed there's another side to the Irish music manager.
She told us: "My experience with Louis was, at the end of a show, no matter what was said on TV, I would get invited back to his dressing room and he was always really nice, always getting me to talk to certain Irish press and did do me favours with things like that.
"He was genuinely really nice to me, contrary to what people saw on TV, and behind the scenes, like he was really sweet to me, so I can't complain about him."
The singer is celebrating the release of her new single, Emotional Rodeo, which sees her make the move into the world of country music.
Janet, who lives with Borderline Personality Disorder and bipolar disorder, has written a catchy new track about what it’s like to love fiercely and fearlessly, despite the challenges that come with it.
She reflects on the soaring highs and plunging lows of living - and loving - with BPD, and hopes it resonates with listeners who may be facing similar struggles.
Describing what it's like to be in a relationship with her, she said: "You're like a god in my universe, right? No one else is going to love you this much. But also if for some reason you do something and it triggers me, I'm like a ticking time bomb.
"If somebody says, 'I'm too tired to hang out tonight', I'll throw my phone across the room, crying. A normal person would be like, 'okay, that's fine'.
"But for me, my whole week has been looking forward to seeing you and being excited to see you because you're my favourite person and my life revolves around you and now you're cancelling on me. It brings out this goblin that lives inside of me."
Janet admitted she "always knew something was wrong" with her before receiving her life-changing diagnoses.
She said: "I just thought it was the addiction. So, I got sober, went to rehab, got the t-shirt, but even though I got sober I was still in a lot of emotional pain and I couldn't quite figure it out. I thought I just was not built for this world."
But a kind gesture from a pal helped Janet get the breakthrough diagnosis that she had been waiting her whole life for.
"I had said on a TikTok Live, 'I really want to get a diagnosis but it's so expensive'.
"It was £395 and I just didn't have £395 at hand at that time. A really close friend of mine sent me the money for it and they were like, just do it,' so I had no excuses."
Her psychiatrist immediately diagnosed her with a "very clear cut case" of Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as bipolar type two.
She candidly admitted: "I ran from getting a diagnosis for a very long time because people always just kind of told me this notion of like, oh, you'll get a diagnosis and you'll play into it.
"But eventually I went and did it and I remember researching BPD, and I was like, 'oh my God, this all makes sense'. People would call me a liar and say 'how can you be a victim of self harm, eating disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction?'
"But when I saw the diagnostics for BPD, it was a list of everything I've been through. I just automatically felt better because I realised I'm not a bad person. I have a literal condition that makes me this way."
The musician manages her disorders with the help of an amazing therapist, regular appointments with her psychiatrist and medication.
"Eventually when I found the medication that worked for me - I take ADHD meds and antipsychotics for my BPD - I am slightly furious at the world because I'm, I'm like, is this how everybody else feels all the time?!"
Janet's single Emotional Rodeo is out now
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this story you can contact Samaritans in the UK and Ireland on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.