James Arthur has hit out after X Factor finalists Rak-Su and Grace Davies were branded ‘brave’ for singing their own songs in the final.
Rak-Su were crowned winners of the fourteenth series on Sunday night after performing their own songs, Touche and Mona Lisa. Runner-up Grace also sang her own material, including Nothing But Words and Too Young.
Speaking after Rak-Su’s performance, judge Simon Cowell said: ‘Not many artists with this much at stake rather than just doing something before, or doing an old song, you stuck to yourselves.
Hitting out: Writing on Twitter, James, who won the competition in 2012, dismissed the idea that Rak-Su and Grace Davies were branded ‘brave’ for singing their own songs in the final
‘You wrote your own song, and not many people do that.’
But writing on Twitter after the show, James, who won the competition in 2012, dismissed the idea that they were ‘brave’ in doing so.
‘Let’s be honest, this is the first year contestants have been allowed to do their own songs,’ he said.
‘Let’s stop saying how brave these guys are, it’s an advantage and respect to them for being able to do it.’
![Jubilant: Rak-Su made history on Sunday night as the first boy band to ever scoop the top prize - a feat even One Direction couldn't achieve](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3E4AD00000578-5141749-image-m-122_1512337274563.jpg)
Jubilant: Rak-Su made history on Sunday night as the first boy band to ever scoop the top prize – a feat even One Direction couldn’t achieve
![Surprise! The winners celebrated appeared shocked as they learned of their success](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3D3BD00000578-5141749-image-m-130_1512337354415.jpg)
Surprise! The winners celebrated appeared shocked as they learned of their success
![Energetic: The Watford natives started their energetic celebration as the audience cheered](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3E44900000578-5141749-image-m-118_1512337210161.jpg)
Energetic: The Watford natives started their energetic celebration as the audience cheered
![Ladies first: They follow in the footsteps of Little Mix, who were the first girl band to win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3E7D800000578-5141749-image-m-90_1512336124584.jpg)
Ladies first: They follow in the footsteps of Little Mix, who were the first girl band to win
Rak-Su made history on Sunday night as the first boy band to ever scoop the top prize – a feat even One Direction couldn’t achieve.
After facing off against Grace Davies, the boys proved to be overwhelmingly popular during the live show at London’s ExCel on Sunday night, with the studio audience loudly chanting their name after each performance.
As host Dermot O’Leary approached winning contestant Jamal Shurland after he hugged his bandmates in celebration, the budding star gushed: ‘Thank you everybody who voted for us,’ before admitting: ‘I’m speechless, honestly.’
The boys, who were steered to victory by mentor Simon Cowell, were given barely time for the news to sink in, before they were back in performance mode.
Perhaps getting a taste of their immediate future, they soon found themselves in the company of star producers and musicians Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, as they performed their new Latin-tinged single Dimelo.
As the elated winners put on their best coordinated moves, Wyclef shimmied his way onto the stage, performing a rap before dancing with Rak-Su – and the rest of the X Factor finalists, who crowded the stage as golden confetti rained down on them.
![Defying gravity: They leaped about all over the stage, much to the amusement of the audience](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3E51700000578-5141749-image-m-120_1512337242935.jpg)
Defying gravity: They leaped about all over the stage, much to the amusement of the audience
![Speechless: Jamaal admitted that he was 'speechless' when asked how he felt about winning](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3E8F400000578-5141749-image-m-93_1512336154107.jpg)
Speechless: Jamaal admitted that he was ‘speechless’ when asked how he felt about winning
![Full of Grace: They were crowned victors after battling it out with fellow finalist Grace Davies](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3B2DC00000578-5141749-image-m-97_1512336296706.jpg)
Full of Grace: They were crowned victors after battling it out with fellow finalist Grace Davies
The band members – which comprise Myles Stephenson, Jamal Shurland, Mustafa Rahimtulla and Ashley Fongho – thanked their family and friends for their support on hearing the news, while their mentor, Simon, was delighted for the ‘gentlemen’.
Simon said: ‘Congratulations to Grace, and obviously, to you guys, Rak-Su, you are gentlemen, you are stars. And to everyone who voted, thank you.’
For the first time, both finalists sang original songs in the last show of the series, as they had done throughout the process, with Grace performing Nothing But Words and Too Young, and Rak-Su impressing with their tracks Touché and Mona Lisa.
And the group’s debut single will also be one of their own, Dimelo, which features Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, who they performed alongside on Saturday’s show.
![Gracious: Runner up Grace Davies performed Nothing But Words and Too Young for her final performances](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3B2E000000578-5141749-image-m-114_1512337101598.jpg)
Gracious: Runner up Grace Davies performed Nothing But Words and Too Young for her final performances
![Pretty in pink: The finalist rocked a vibrant pink robe and trousers as she belted out her last two songs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F3B33800000578-5141749-image-m-104_1512336964623.jpg)
Pretty in pink: The finalist rocked a vibrant pink robe and trousers as she belted out her last two songs
Proceeds from the single will go to children’s hospice charities Together for Short Lives and Shooting Star Chase.
Sunday’s final also saw a number of guest performances, with Little Mix – the only other group to ever win the show, taking the crown in 2011 – performing Power before being joined by CNCO for Reggaeton Lento.
In addition, Pink took to the stage to showcase her singles Beautiful Trauma and What About Us and Sam Smith sang his latest track One Last Song.
Following the show, Simon boldly declared that Rak-Su have the potential to be as big as One Direction, telling The Sun: ‘There’s an awful lot of artists in entertainment who appear nice in front of the cameras but behind them they’re monsters.
‘Not these guys. These guys have that same thing as 1D, a certain class. The group are so important to the show for that reason. When you have people like these guys who have ambition it’s great and there’s this wonderful afterglow.’
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F39E1900000578-5141749-image-a-108_1512337021696.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F39FC100000578-5141749-image-m-107_1512337003371.jpg)
Determined: The singer, originally from Blackburn, gave her all against Rak-Su during the live show at London’s ExCel on Sunday night
![Excitement: Grace was joined on stage by a crowd of pink dancers for Nothing but Words](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/21/46F39F3300000578-5141749-image-m-112_1512337052258.jpg)
Excitement: Grace was joined on stage by a crowd of pink dancers for Nothing but Words