It's James Arthur Vs Frankie Boyle, Round Two, After Gay Slur Diss Track

James Arthur has handed over all social media responsibilities to his record label after posting a diss track about rapper Micky Worthless that featured explicit gay slurs.

The track - uploaded on Saturday - was immediately set upon by comedians Matt Lucas and Frankie Boyle, who deemed it homophobic. Arthur initially defended himself before deleting the tweets and claiming his management would be "doing all [his] tweets from now on," according to The Express.

The track, which sees Arthur attempting to defend his credibility, contains lyrics including, "I wrote every single song on my album and the realest feel it," though it becomes more aggressive and after the North-East singer suggests Worthless should "shoot himself," Arthur fires off: "You probably want to put your st*nky dick in me, you f*cking queer."

He adds: "Hilarious, precarious you Talibani confused, imbellic mimic of a gimmick."

The original diss track, by Worthless, is horrible. I mean, easily one of the worst ever recorded, but James Arthur's response just might be worse. "Mickey, please stop making your music it's not very good." Yep, that's in there.

Anyway, Little Britain star Matt Lucas tweeted: "F*** you @JamesArthur23 for using the phrase 'f****** q***r'." to which James replied, "I've heard I've offended Matt Lucas whose work I've always admired and that is a blow. Deeply sorry to gay or lesbian people." He also claimed X-Factor star Ryan Clark "is one of my best mates and he is as gay as they come!"

Next page: James Arthur versus Frankie Boyle, round two, plus listen to the original diss track.

Comedian Frankie Boyle - who has a history of spats with Arthur - tweeted, "From the pic I thought it was a child's drawing of a monster...Sit down &( so far as it's technically possible) shut your mouth."

Arthur had a response to that, saying, "You are a 38 yr old man what are you doing? You know nothing about music and comedy it seems.. I feel sorry for your kids," to which Boyle came back, "I feel sorry for them too, because they'll have to watch you in panto next year."

Arthur eventually issued a formal(ish) apology, saying, "Any offence I have caused by using the term 'queer' in my rap battle with MC Worthless. I just have to say I'm extremely disappointed in myself for being so naive with the diss track I made for an unknown rapper recently. I would just like to make it completely clear that it was not meant in anyway as a reference to homosexuality."

He also added: "I realise where the term has come from in meaning... but used in the context of the rap battles I have grown up with it has come to mean something completely different... That said, I understand why it could cause offence and that definitely wasn't my intention."

James Arthur's self-titled debut album entered the UK chart at No.2 following its release on November 4, 2013.