Guy Sebastian apologises to 'X Factor' Australia's Mitchell Callaway

Guy Sebastian has apologised to Mitchell Callaway for embarrassing him on live television.

The Australian X Factor judge, who berated contestant Callaway on Monday night's show for apparently being "rude" to members of the TV crew, admitted that he perhaps shouldn't have made the lecture quite so public.

Sebastian said on last night's episode: "There's obviously a time and a place to say something like that and I definitely chose the wrong place to say it, and for that I'm really sorry."

He did, however, insist that he still "stand[s] by" what he said about manners, saying: "You always have to have a great attitude. You always have to show love and respect to everybody that you come across [but] I'm truly sorry for upsetting Mitchell and for choosing the wrong time to say that."

On Tuesday morning, Callaway's mentor Natalie Bassingthwaighte said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show that the wannabe singer would probably quit the show. However, Callaway later confirmed that he is staying, tweeting: "I'm not gunna quit guys. It's not the Aussie way. I'm not gunna let al u beautiful ppl dwn. Or Natalie after everythn she's done (sic)."

Bassingthwaite also said that Sebastian's comments were "humiliating", adding: "It makes me feel sick actually, I feel sick in the stomach. I think Guy made the mistake of commenting on stuff that didn't happen on camera."

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The X Factor is now down to nine contestants after Jacqui Newland was eliminated last night.

Watch Guy Sebastian criticise Mitchell Callaway's "attitude" below: