Rita Ora will not join the rest of The X Factor judges at the show's premiere on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old singer - who was formerly a coach on The Voice - is away on a promotional tour of the US and so will not join Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and fellow new judge Nick Grimshaw on the red carpet to help launch the new series of the ITV talent show.
But a spokesperson for the show insisted that Simon was aware of Rita's prior engagement before she signed up to the panel.
Rita with the X Factor team at the auditions (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)
They said: "Rita is unable to attend the press launch as she is on tour in the US, organised prior to signing up."
Rita has already filmed the audition stages and will be back in time for the live shows.
Meanwhile, the Poison singer has confessed to The Sun that she is terrified of dying.
Rita said: “Death is my biggest phobia.
"I used to have panic attacks when I was little, saying, 'Mum, I don’t want to die.' I have been going to therapy and I still try to go every week."
The X Factor returns to ITV on Saturday August 29.
