INXS says it was shocked to hear its most recent lead singer, J.D. Fortune, claim he is living in his truck after the Australian rock band fired him.

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Fortune, who is working on a solo album called "Death of a Motivational Speaker," has said he is broke now that the band let him go without warning at a Hong Kong airport, following a world tour. Fortune won "Rock Star: INXS," a TV reality show created to find a replacement for the group's lead singer Michael Hutchence, who died in 1997. Fortune collaborated with the band on one album in 2005 and toured with INXS for more than two years afterward.

"Not only are we shocked by the claims, even the place the supposed incident was to have taken place is a mystery," said a statement issued by the group to the BBC.

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INXS' creative director and global business strategist, C.M. Murphy, said the band was "horrified" by Fortune's allegations.

"The band have always stated to me that Fortune's services could potentially be contracted again when INXS next tour," Murphy told the BBC. "In fact, he was next on my list to call regarding a very big recording project I am putting together for INXS at present. I guess I have no reason to call him now."