Joe McElderry responds to fat-shaming tabloids with shirtless selfie

X Factor winner Joe McElderry has responded in the best possible way after being body shamed by tabloid papers: by posting a topless photo on Instagram.

Reporting on a recent TV appearance by the 24-year-old, the Daily Mail described McElderry as having a ‘fuller frame’, noting how he’d changed from the “days on The X Factor when he was a skinny 18-year-old.”

Joining the fray, The Mirror added that he was “no longer a baby-faced teen” with a “more mature look and fuller figure.” He’s been back in the public eye after appearing on ITV’s Lorraine to promote his new project, stage production Tommy The Rock Opera, which is based on The Who’s album Tommy.

https://instagram.com/p/6j7f24vOs7/

The out gay singer, who beat Olly Murs to victory in the X Factor in 2009 and went on to win both Popstar to Operastar and The Jump, didn’t take the jibes lying down. Taking to Instagram, he posted a rather buff-looking topless selfie, accompanied by the cation: “Just took my full figured little ass to the gym and thought I take a little pic #dailymail #fail”.

He’s so far received almost 2,000 likes and hundreds of supportive comments from fans.

Words by LOUIS SHANKAR.