Music mogul and television personality Simon Cowell has hinted at a distinct coolness in his relationship with former American Idol co-star Ryan Seacrest. In a candid new interview, Cowell suggested he has paid little attention to Seacrest's professional exploits in the decade and a half since they worked together.
"I Don't Follow His Career": Cowell's Blunt Admission
During an appearance on The New York Times' podcast The Interview, the 66-year-old judge was asked what he believed made Seacrest "so popular." Cowell's response was notably detached. "I don’t know, actually," he stated. "He was very, very ambitious. And look, I don’t follow his career if I’m being honest with you."
Cowell doubled down on this position, adding, "So I don’t know what he’s done or doing." He claimed the pair "rarely talk now," and characterised the Wheel of Fortune host as relentlessly career-focused. "I always knew with Ryan, he was very steely about his career, wanting to be famous. I mean this massive, massive desire about being very famous," Cowell alleged, offering only faint praise by conceding Seacrest "does work hard."
A History of On-Screen Tension
Cowell and Seacrest's professional relationship began in 2002 on the debut season of American Idol. Cowell was an original judge alongside Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, while Seacrest co-hosted with Brian Dunkleman. While Cowell departed after season nine in 2010, Seacrest has remained the show's host.
Their tenure was punctuated by several public spats. A notable incident occurred in 2007 when Cowell appeared to mock Seacrest's alleged sexuality with loaded comments about a contestant's high heels. "You should know, Ryan," Cowell snipped, leading Seacrest to retort, "Stay out of my closet." Cowell fired back, "Come out!" An insider later claimed to the Today show that the exchange was at least partially scripted, insisting the two were "real good friends off-camera."
Later that same year, Seacrest bristled when Cowell called him a "sweetheart," stating, "Don’t call me sweetheart... We don’t have that kind of relationship." In a subsequent interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2010, Seacrest claimed Cowell had been "so jealous" of him "from Day One." However, he struck a more conciliatory tone in a separate chat with Ellen DeGeneres that year, saying they were "actually friendly" and didn't hold a grudge.
Denials and Lasting Legacy
Despite Cowell's latest remarks, his representative moved quickly to deny any ongoing feud. In a statement to Page Six on Monday, the rep asserted that there was no feud between the two men.
The original American Idol, which Cowell helped pitch as an American version of the UK's Pop Idol, became a ratings juggernaut. Its success was cemented after media mogul Rupert Murdoch, reportedly persuaded by his daughter Elisabeth's enjoyment of the British series, backed the project.
Cowell's comments arrive shortly after he admitted that the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne "really hit" him. When approached for comment by The Daily Mail, representatives for both Cowell and Seacrest did not immediately respond.
