The Canadian crooner says he was so intimidated when he first met Argentian actress Luisana Lopilato at one of his concerts last November that he spent the night talking to her male friend instead.

He told Britain's The Sun newspaper: 'I don't speak Spanish and she had no English. But the guy did so I just spoke to him. I was a bit nervous because of how beautiful she was.

'I later found out she was on the phone to her mother the whole time saying, 'Buble's gay. He's hitting on my friend'.'

After finding out that Luisana was single, Michael, 34, asked her out and the couple have been together ever since – much to the unhappiness of the 22-year-old beauty's devotees.

Michael admitted: 'I get the feeling some people - perhaps her fans - don't like me. The media there have said terrible things about me.'

The actor - who broke up with 'The Young Victoria' actress Emily Blunt in 2008 amid rumours of his infidelity - had previously said he found it difficult dating other performers.

He said: 'You're never together. You're lucky if you can see the person once every two to three months.'