#ShoutYourAbortion began trending this week after it was announced budget cuts in America would see the closure of funded clinics.

It was also being used to empower women who have had to go through the heartbreaking process of terminating a baby.

But Steve decided to make the hashtag all about him. He wrote: "#ShoutYourAbortion. Oh god, Twitter does it again. Go on then, be proud. Shout it out.

"I don't think I come across enough radical feminists with mental health issues. I really don't.

"I aborted my pop career as I was trapped in an abusive record deal. My shame stops today. #ShoutYourAbortion."

Unsurprisingly Steve's insensitive tweets were blasted by his fellow Twitter users. One blasted: "It may amaze you to learn that there are things in this universe that aren't about you."

Another fumed: "Are you still a thing? I thought you weren't a thing anymore. I'm pretty sure you're not a thing. So maybe F*** OFF [sic]."

Steve won the first series of The X Factor in 2004 was was quickly dropped by Simon Cowell's record label after poor music sales.

Since then he's bitterly attacked the show - and Simon - on a regular basis, and this year he released a book about his experience.