‘American Idol’: Simon Cowell Speaks out on Criticism of Contestants

Simon Cowell has opened up about his earlier reputation as reality televisions notoriously blunt judge, admitting he feels some regret over the harsh remarks he made to contestants on American Idol. In a recent conversation with The New York Times, the music mogul acknowledged that while he didnt intend to be cruel, some of his comments went too far.

My goal with these shows was always to discover talented artists to sign to my label, Cowell explained. So when people auditioned and couldnt sing, I would react just as I did when evaluating auditions personallyafter ten seconds, wed be honest and say, You cant sing. Not, Youre going to be brilliant.

He also noted the early frustrations he faced, emphasizing that if the shows failed to find standout performers, future seasons risked cancellation. These blunt critiques quickly became a defining feature of American Idol and contributed to the shows initial popularity. Contestants often faced sharp rebukes, leaving them visibly upset on camera.

Over time, I realized I had probably gone too far and needed to adjust my approach, Cowell said, referring to the softer persona he adopted in later seasons. He admitted that audition days could be long and tedious, and his negative comments tended to receive more attention in the final edit than his positive feedback. Out of a hundred nice remarks, theyd focus on the few I made when frustrated, he shared, adding a straightforward apology: Im sorry. Just for being harshIm not proud of it.

Discussing his relationship with past footage, Cowell revealed, I dont watch myself online. When I do hear about these clips, its a bit shocking, but they did help make the shows globally popular.

Simon Cowell was an original American Idol judge from 2002 to 2010 before leaving to create The X Factor in 2011. He currently serves as a judge on both Americas Got Talent and Britains Got Talent.

Upcoming appearances include American Idol Season 24, premiering Monday, January 26, 2026, at 8/7c on ABC, and Simon Cowell: The Next Act on Netflix, Wednesday, December 10.

Author: Sophia Brooks