Simon Cowell “Not Proud” Of Insulting ‘American Idol’ Contestants: “What Can I Say? I’m Sorry”
Simon Cowell has apologized to early years American Idol contestants for “being a dick.”
The music impresario and talent show judge said he was “not proud” of the way he insulted competitors on the series, which helped establish him as a household name when it launched on Fox in 2002.
In an interview with The New York Times, Cowell said his persona softened on American Idol over time because he recognized that he had crossed a line.
In the early years, Cowell said he was focused on finding talent and feared the show would be canceled if they failed. This led to a bluntness in his approach that he thinks was further heightened in the edit.
“When I used to do auditions, someone would come in and they can’t sing, we would say after 10 seconds, ‘You can’t sing,’ not, ‘You’re going to be brilliant,’ and everything else,” he said.
“So I was frustrated at the beginning, because I thought, if we don’t find someone good at the end of these shows, they’re not going to get recommissioned.”
Lulu Garcia-Navarro, host of The New York Times show The Interview, pressed Cowell on what the line was between bluntness and humiliation.
She recounted YouTube compilations of Cowell insulting contestants, including commenting on their weight and telling them they’d invented a new form of torture.
“Do we have to go through this?” Cowell winced. “I’ve got to be honest with you. That’s why I did change over time. I mean, I did realize I’ve probably gone too far.”
He continued: “I didn’t particularly like, I still don’t like, audition days because they’re long and boring. I would get fed up. And of course, you know, out of 100 nice comments, what are they going to use? They’re always going to use. You know, me being in a bad mood. I got that.”
“What can I say? I’m sorry,” Cowell added. Asked what he was apologizing for, he said: “Just being a dick … I’m not proud of it. Let’s put it that way. I never look at this stuff online or anything. You know, I’m not someone who particularly wants to see myself on camera.”
“So when I hear about these clips, I’m like, ‘Oh God.’ But then again, the upside is, I suppose, with these clips, is that it made the shows really popular worldwide.”
Cowell has expressed regret about his American Idol judging in the past. In 2012, Cowell said he was “appalled” at his treatment of contestants, and a year earlier admitted he “crossed the line,” especially when dealing with more vulnerable or “fragile” participants.
Cowell was speaking to The New York Times to promote his Netflix series Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which launches on December 10.
