Katie Waissel was reportedly left “stunned and shocked” when she heard about press stories concerning her grandmother.

Over the weekend, a tabloid newspaper alleged that the X Factor singer’s 81-year-old grandmother is a ‘secret prostitute’ who charges £250 per hour.

The Daily Star reports that Waissel was informed of the story by X Factor staff.

“She was taken into a private room by a couple of female staff who told her the whole story,” a source told the paper. “As you can imagine she was quite distraught and devastated.

“It came like a bolt from the blue for her – she had no idea that her gran was involved in anything like this.”

They continued: “After a few tears, Katie calmed down a bit but did say, ‘I cannot believe this. When is all this going to stop? It’s just one thing after another.'”

According to the report, producers had the 24-year-old’s parents present to comfort her.

The insider also said: “Katie showed her true steel by vowing to keep fighting on, making it clear that she was still standing and was staying to fight.”