JLS have revealed they are often subjected to abuse from ‘Internet trolls’

The UK boyband, who are set to chart inside the UK Top 5 this week with their official Sport Relief single, ‘Proud,’ told The Daily Mirror that they regularly have to deal with negative comments from social network users.

Aston says he found it hard to deal with the criticism early on in their career:

“It’s pathetic that people have got so much time and energy to put into negativity. When we were starting out you couldn’t help but read all these negative comments on the internet.

“I’d ask myself ‘Why would someone hate me so much?’ It is hard. All the smoke and mirrors... everything looks great on the outside, but stuff happens behind closed doors that isn’t always so great."

The 24-year-old, currently in the middle of the band's 4th Dimension arena tour, also blasted those who targeted his sister following the band’s X-Factor success:

“I was bullied a little when I was younger, but what tipped me over the edge was her. It was hard for people around us to get to grips with our success, and my sister got bullied as a result.

“We’ve had racist abuse be it on YouTube or Twitter, all the troll stuff. How people can lower themselves to that set of mind... It’s wrong, awful.

“You just have to be thick-skinned in this industry and try and ignore it. But now I don’t read the comments. It’s a case of be the best you can be, and the old saying, ‘If you’ve got nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all’.”