The 34-year-old singer was asked by Caroline Flack and Olly Murs on The Xtra Factor tonight (October 27) whether it was true he didn't tell the producers of the show that he was going to Liverpool.
Maloney responded: "No, it wasn't true."
Flack then clarified the question, and Maloney admitted that he did go back to his hometown during the week, but that he had sought permission to do so.
He said: "I did go back to see my family in Liverpool because my nanna wasn't very well, so I had the afternoon off."
Flack then said it "was good to clear things up".
Maloney was also asked whether he was solely in the competition due to the people of Liverpool voting for him.
He said their support had been "absolutely fantastic" and that he "couldn't thank them enough", but added that he believed he had fans across the UK.
