Simon Cowell apologizes for behavior on American Idol

Simon Cowell has publicly apologized for his behavior as a judge on American Idol, acknowledging that he now feels remorse for the way he treated certain contestants. As one of the original judges alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Cowell was widely known for his sharp critiques and demanding standards.

In an interview with The New York Times, published on Saturday, Cowell admitted he likely went too far with his harsh remarks. I wasnt intending to be cruel, he explained. My goal with these shows was always to discover artists worth signing to my label. When contestants couldnt sing, I would respond honestly, sometimes too bluntly. In auditions, we would often say after just 10 seconds, You cant sing, rather than pretending someone would be brilliant.

When asked how he differentiates between being direct and humiliating a contestant, Cowell said his approach evolved over time. I came to realize that I probably overstepped at times, he admitted. Audition days were long and tedious, and I sometimes lost patience. Out of a hundred positive comments, it was always the negative ones that made the clips. I understand that now, and Im sorry.

Reflecting on the past, Cowell added, Im not proud of it. I dont watch these clips online, so when I hear about them, Im like, Oh, God. But on the other hand, those moments contributed to the global popularity of the show.

Cowells remarks arrive just one week ahead of the debut of his Netflix docuseries, Simon Cowell: The Next Act, where he searches for the next big boy band following his successes with groups like One Direction and Little Mix. The series documents the entire process, from the open casting calls to the release of the groups first single.

Even though I enjoy my television work, I miss the early days of signing artists and working with bands. Theres a huge opportunity here: I aim to discover a new boy band, Cowell said in the series trailer. If it doesnt work, people might say Simon Cowell has lost it.

All six episodes of Simon Cowell: The Next Act will be available on Netflix starting December 10.

Author: Sophia Brooks