Axed X Factor finalist Nicolo Festa has claimed he felt humiliated and “wanted to die” after it was revealed he was the first of this year’s 16 acts to leave the show on Sunday night. Italian born Nicolo – branded as a diva by the judges – complained that his song choice was the reason he left the show, saying it wasn’t his “style.”

Speaking to the official X Factor magazine, X, Festa said: “I felt humiliated and like I wanted to die. Every second I was mortified. I wasn’t sad, I just wanted to disappear. I don’t like to feel embarrassed… Humiliated. That’s all I feel.

“I think people didn’t get me. People didn’t like me at all because I come across as arrogant. I’m not English, which counts a lot.”

Talking about his diva reputation, Nicolo commented: “I think that it didn’t exactly help me, because people like simple people. Even though this show is quirky this year, at the end, it’s always the nation’s sweetheart who’s going to win, not the one who stands out, which I get, which is why I didn’t have high expectations.”

Talking about his performance of Lady GaGa’s ‘Just Dance’ on Saturday’s opening show, Nicolo said: “It was terrible, I just listened to the track on iTunes and I feel really ashamed. It was the wrong song. It’s not my style. I would prefer it if people didn’t buy that track… I am mortified by that. I mean, I wouldn’t buy it.”

The latest issue of The X Factor magazine is out in Tesco stores tomorrow.