Last month the 18-year-old singer caused outrage when he said the New York attacks had been “blown out of proportion.”

He told The Sun that instead of feeling sorry for New Yorkers we should be worrying about the fate of whales and elephants.

British fans seemed unconcerned, with more than 87,000 buying their single If You Come Back, making it No1 this week.

But Blue’s American label Virgin have postponed plans to launch the group there for “the forseeable future.”

Lee’s outburst was big news in the US and The Sun received more than 20,000 emails from America.

Outburst ... Lee's rant on Oct 26 and the reaction a day later

One US Virgin source said: “The reaction to his comments was devastating and effectively ended their US career before it started.

“We were looking to make some sort of assault there and the initial reaction was very positive.

“But after what Lee said there is a wave of feeling against them and they have had a lot of threats from people in the States and have been warned not to go there.”

Lee and band mates Duncan James, Antony Costa and Simon Webbe were filming a video in New York at the time of the outrage.

Lee, who saw the attack, said: “Who gives a f---  about New York when elephants are being killed?”

“Animals need saving and that’s more important.”

He later apologised and pledged to donate his share of profits from If You Come Back to our Twin Towers Fund.