What did Leona Lewis say about Michael Costello?
LEONA Lewis called out celebrity designer Michael Costello days after the fashion tycoon accused Chrissy Teigen of bullying him. On June 14, Costello opened up about his past experiences with Teigen in an Instagram post. In his June 14 Instagram posts, Costello alleges Teigen told him to suffer and die after she spread rumors he was racist." Now, British singer Lewis is calling out Costello one day after the fashion designer's accusations. In a lengthy Instagram Story post, Lewis claimed that Costello made her feel "very awkward and uncomfortable" at a 2014 fitting for a charity fashion show that she claims she ended up not being able to participate in. The 36-year-old singer explained that she was speaking out about Costello because "the pot calling the kettle black in this situation doesn't sit right with" her. 8 Leona Lewis has called out fashion designer Michael Costello, claiming he made her feel 'very awkward and uncomfortable' at a 2014 fitting for a charity fashion show Credit: Getty  "I usually don't speak on subjects like this," Lewis began her statement on June 15. "But honestly I feel that I have to say something as I've dealt with years of insecurity from it. "I don't condone any kind of bully behavior and I'm sorry for what Michael Costello went through," she wrote, adding that she "wanted to share my experience in 2014." "I was asked to take part in a fashion show to raise money for charity. Michael Costello was assigned as my designer. "As an excited young woman, I flew all the way to New York and was so honored to work with him because I adored his dresses." Lewis said that she was made to feel "very awkward and uncomfortable" at her fitting because the dress was a sample size, and alleged that Costello and his team "clearly did not want to alter it to fit me." "This came as a total surprise because weeks prior I was told that they would make the dress work for me. 8 Lewis said that she was 'so embarrassed and deeply hurt' by Costello's actions Credit: Getty  "At the next fitting, the night before the show, with no explanation at all, Michael refused to turn up," Lewis claimed. "He no longer wanted to dress me and he abandoned his commitments to me and the show which made me well aware that I wasn't the body type required." Lewis said that she was "so embarrassed and deeply hurt" by Costello. "Because I didn't look like a model size, I was not permitted to walk in his dress. I had to sit in the audience and was asked by press why I didn't walk in the show," she added. "I feel like I was made to look as though I pulled out and was being difficult and as an affect [sic] of those actions I suffered a lot, both personally and professionally. "The most hurtful thing is that it was to raise money for charity, and this went against everything we were trying to do." 8 Lewis said her experience with Costello 'left with deep insecurities' about her body Credit: Getty  Lewis said that she was "left with deep insecurities" after the experience and has "had to work hard over the years to love my body." "I'm so proud of how curves are celebrated today but back then it was a different story and there was hardly any representation for women who were not a standard small size. "I know that his designs are catered to women of all sizes now, and I'm glad he saw the light over the years. "We all make mistakes, I know I have, but at this time I feel that when people apologize (Chrissy) and show sincere remorse and rehabilitation for their actions, we should embrace them and not try and kick them when they're down," Lewis added. The singer continued: "I'm not discounting Michaels experience as that is an awful thing to go through and I wish him so much love and healing. "I'm sure this will come as a shock as I never told him how this made me feel. But the pot calling the kettle black in this situation doesn't sit right with me. 8 Michael Costello responded to Lewis' claims via Instagram Credit: Getty  "Bullying comes in many different forms. We need love, we need accountability, we need forgiveness, none of us are perfect." Lewis concluded, "We are trying our best and learning. I'm sorry for anyone who has gone through any kind of bullying, I'm also sorry if I've ever hurt anyone without knowing it as I'm sure was the case with Michael. On June 15, Costello responded to Lewis' claims against him on his own Instagram story, sharing a photo of the singer wearing a red dress designed by him. "@LeonaLewis No dis no shade no hate, I love you and your music I still follow you but not sure what [happened]. "I've reached out to you personally and I have 7 emails from the last 4 years and these past 9 weeks from your team and stylist still requesting looks last email 05/17/21. 8 Michael Costello said he's 'reached out' to Lewis about her claims Credit: Getty  "Leona I am still a fan and I am not coming for you. But let's talk about what you were feeling about this dress I thought you were happy," he added. In another slide, he shared a photo of himself with Lewis, saying that he was not sure what happened "between the middle men or what happen in translation." "Love you Leona," he wrote, sharing in another slide a screengrab of an alleged email from Lewis' team. In his Instagram posts from June 14, Costello opened up about his experience with Teigen, saying, I didnt want to do this but I cannot be happy until I speak my mind. "I need to heal and in order for me to do that I must reveal what Ive been going through. I wanted to kill myself and still am traumatized, depressed and have thoughts of suicide," the fashion designer wrote. Costello then explained hes been living in fear as he felt that his most profitable brand relationships and friendships were at risk, as well as the fear of being blacklisted even more by the power elites who run the industry.  8 Michael Costello is the latest person to call out Chrissy Teigen, accusing her of bullying him Credit: Getty  He wrote: In 2014, I received a public comment from Chrissy Teigen on my Instagram page, accusing me of being a racist. She apparently formed her own opinion of me based on a photoshopped comment floating around the internet which has now been proven to be false by Instagram and since taken down. When I reached out to Chrissy Teigen to communicate that I was a victim of a vindictive cyber slander, and that everything she thought I was is not who I am, she told me that my career was over and that all my doors will be shut from there on.  Costello said she lived up to her words, sharing that he spent the next few years losing jobs with no explanation as Teigen and powerful stylist Monica Rose had gone out of their way to threaten people and brands that if they were in any shape or form associated with me, they would not work with any of them.  He claimed that he tried to explain the whole story to Chrissy and Monica, though they never gave him the times of day.  Costello continued: So many nights I stayed awake, wanting to kill myself. I didnt see the point of living. There was no way I can ever escape from being the target of the powerful elites in Hollywood, who actually do have powers to close doors with a single text. 8 On June 14, Costello alleges Teigen told him to 'suffer and die' after she 'spread rumors he was racist' Credit: Getty  Most read in Celebrity 'WE'RE OVER IT' Kim Kardashian admits she REGRETS posing nude for 2007 Playboy photoshoot SAVAGE Rihanna's new leggings are going viral for this reason 'WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?' Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott cuddle up at NYC gig as he says 'I love you wifey' 'BE HONEST' Madison LeCroy says 'you're welcome' for JLo & Ben reunion after ARod rumors  Not only was I the target of cyber defamation, I was also getting blocklisted in real life.  On June 14, Teigen issued a public apology on Medium about her past behavior on social media. However, a representative of Costello exclusively revealed to The Sun that Teigen or her team have still not offered an apology despite inciting "years of trauma" upon him.