Jess Glynne apologises for using transphobic slur saying she is deeply ashamed

Jess Glynne has apologised for using a transphobic slur, saying knowing she had negatively impacted on the trans community "ripped out a piece of my heart".

The Don't Be So Hard On Yourself singer was called out after an appearance on the Mo Gilligan podcast in which she told an anecdote about taking a male friend to a transgender strip club to make them feel uncomfortable for a joke.

Glynne, 31, said in a statement on Instagram: "I want to address my appearance on the @mothecomedian podcast, when a story I told caused massive and righteous offence.

"Firstly, I want to say that I am wholeheartedly sorry.

"I know that in this case, sorry is not nearly enough, throughout my life I have made a lot of mistakes and what I have come to know is that the only benefit to making one is to learn from it.

Read more: Jess Glynne opens up on heartbreak of losing gran to coronavirus

"To be in the knowledge that I have negatively impacted the community through my own ignorance has ripped out a piece of my heart.

"I know I needed to address my mistake head on and educate myself about an issue I was frankly ignorant of.

"The language that I used on the podcast was unacceptable, as someone that has always been immersed in the LGBTQ+ community, I have witnessed first hand the progress that has been made when it comes to language, I am ashamed that I was unaware of the potency of the T-slur until now."

The openly bisexual singer went on to her 781,000 followers: "Today I have learnt something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

"I hope by using my platform to apologise I can also start the conversation and others may benefit from being educated by braver souls than myself."

Glynne added: "I do believe personal development never ends but we have to make a commitment to change and I will be taking some time to continue to grow."

Trans strip club owner Lucia Blayke had tweeted in response to Glynne's original comment: "As the owner of a 'tranny strip club'. I’d ask Jess Glynne not to use slurs to describe us or call us 'men in wigs'. In fact just leave us out of your funny anecdotes, we are not a laughing stock, we are human beings."

The I'll Be There singer last year had to issue an apology after she claimed she was made a victim of “discrimination” by being turned away from an expensive London restaurant for being too scruffy.

Read more: Jess Glynne ‘used the wrong word’ over restaurant discrimination claim

Apologising on social media she said: "I used the wrong word, discrimination, I take that back. It was wrong. But I just wanted to highlight the reason why I posted what I did."

Watch: Jess Glynne had to apologise for her discrimination comments last year