My friendship with Cheryle is stronger now: Will.I.Am

Speculation about the Black Eyed Peas star and Cole grew after she split from husband Ashley Cole and went to the US to find her footing as a pop star there.

But Will.I.Am insisted he and Cole had only ever been friends and business partners, reported Sun Online.

"I learned a lot about myself. I'm glad I went through that, I'm glad she went through that, but it was hard," he said.

The 37-year-old also said he and the Girls Aloud star had learnt to laugh off the rumours.

"At first it would bring my emotions down, but now we laugh about them. It's just something you learn together. I appreciate our friendship and I think it's strong," he added.

 

Will.I.Am says he was pleased when Cole was axed from 'The X Factor' USA last year because she started focusing on her chart career again as she had too much musical ability to "just be some TV star".

"Cheryl is a great artist and a great performer and I think the world needs that. Music is what got us here. If you're not singing any more or writing songs then you've abandoned your base. Cheryl Cole to me is not Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton," he said. PTI AYM