will.i.am has claimed that Cheryl Cole was wasting her talent during her time on The X Factor.
The Voice UK coach, who manages Cole's career, said he is pleased the Girls Aloud star is focusing on music again following her axe from The X Factor USA and subsequent refusal to rejoin the UK version.
"Cheryl is a great artist and performer and to see that go away just for TV - it wasn't cool. It was a waste of talent," he told the Daily Star Sunday.
"Being on the show might have made her a star but if she wasn't singing any more or writing then she had abandoned her basics.
"Cheryl to me is not like Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton - she has a different talent. She can't just be some tabloid TV star. She needs to get back to music."
Speaking of Cole's X Factor USA departure, he added: "I'm glad we both went through it but it was hard. Since the American X Factor stuff I've learned a lot about myself and the music industry.
"At first it would bring my emotions down. But now when things come up we giggle and laugh about them together."
Cole is currently preparing for the release of her new single 'Call My Name', which she is expected to perform on The Voice UK.
