ITV I'm A Celeb's Tulisa defended over appearance as pal fumes 'keep your mouth shut'

Tulisa Contostavlos' close friend has warned trolls to keep quiet after the star received negative comments on her looks while appearing on ...Get Me Out of Here!

The 36-year-old, who rose to fame as part of British R&B/rap band N-Dubz, was subject to an avalanche of nasty comments and concern from viewers who questioned what had happened to her face. Due to keeping a relatively low profile over the last few years, some viewers were left stunned by her transformation.

But her friend has now spoken in defence of Tulisa, as she explained her health woes. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine on Wednesday, Tulisa's friend bit back.

Presenter Lorraine Kelly said: "Now look, we were talking about getting semi-permanent make-up to look like yourself. A lot of people have been really nasty about Tulisa and saying, 'Oh, what has she done to her face and oh, she's had all this work done' when actually there is a reason, isn't there? There's a reason for that."

Michelle replied: "She's been suffering a lot with her face. She also had cysts, and she's recently had them out. So she had an operation where they had to go in and take cysts out. She's had a really terrible time."

Lorraine then said, "Bell's palsy is a really scary thing. It's like your face can almost drop!" Michelle agreed.

The pal continued: "It did. Like her whole face on one side was droopy."

Lorraine admitted that she could understand why Tulisa needed corrective work done for medical reasons. She then asked Michelle what she would say to those who were commenting on the singer's looks online.

She replied: "I'd say be nice. Keep your mouths shut!"

Before her jungle debut last week, Tulisa spoke about having Bell's Palsy while appearing on Olivia Attwood's So Wrong It’s Right podcast. She revealed: "When I was about 24, I had my first Bell's Palsy attack.

"So I sat at home, and I had a massive burst of inflammation, and it went down, but my whole face dropped – eye, everything. I couldn't move it; my face remained like that for seven months; I didn't go out; I just hid in the house."

Bell's Palsy occurs when there is a temporary weakness or lack of movement affecting one side of the face. Symptoms can include, weakness on one side of the face, a drooping eyelid or drooping in corner of the mouth.

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am from ITV1.