London, Dec 16 (IANS): Troubled British pop star James Arthur has opened up about his recent battle with depression, confessing he lost all of his confidence after he was accused of homophobia.

Arthur has faced a storm of criticism in recent weeks after using the term "f*****g queer" in a rap, prompting a public backlash which sent him into a downward spiral.

He has now opened up about the controversy, revealing he was unable to speak to anyone for a week as a result of the blues. A bout of anxiety attacked him as he suddenly found himself the target of death threats.

"All my confidence has disappeared because the whole nation thinks I am a homophobe who looks like a monster. I couldn't speak to anyone for a week. It was awful," he told thesun.uk.co.

"My little sister was being bullied in school and I was receiving constant death threats. I stayed in bed for days on end. Any time I tried to get up, I couldn't. I felt deep, deep shame about my mistakes since winning the show."

"I kept thinking, 'What the f**k have I done?' But since becoming famous, I have had a depressive nature. It's a curse. Maybe I suffer for my art," he said.

Following the incident, Arthur scrapped a series of shows and appearances due to "acute exhaustion". But he returned to the stage on Britain's "The X Factor" Dec 13 after show producers ignored calls to drop him from the live episode.