Music mogul and television personality Simon Cowell has issued a rare public apology for his famously harsh behaviour during his tenure as a judge on the hit talent show American Idol. In a candid new interview, Cowell admitted he now regrets the way he treated some contestants and believes he crossed the line with his sharp-tongued critiques.
The 'Mean Judge' Reflects on His Legacy
Cowell served as one of the original three judges on American Idol from 2002 until 2010, sitting alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. He quickly earned a reputation as the show's most critical and brutally honest panellist, a role that became his trademark but one he now views with some remorse.
Speaking to The New York Times in an interview published on Saturday, 30 November 2025, Cowell conceded that his approach was sometimes excessive. "I did realise I've probably gone too far," he stated. He explained that his primary goal was always to find genuine talent for his record label, leading to frustration during lengthy audition days. "I wasn't trying to be a dick on purpose," Cowell clarified. "All I wanted with these shows was to find successful artists to sign to the label."
From Blunt Critique to Public Humiliation
When questioned on the distinction between being bluntly honest and humiliating a hopeful singer, Cowell acknowledged his perspective has shifted over time. He attributed some of his sharper moments to boredom and a short temper during marathon audition sessions, but accepted full responsibility for his televised comments.
"I would get fed up. And of course, out of a hundred nice comments, what are they going to use? They're always going to use me in a bad mood. I got that. What can I say? I'm sorry," he told the publication. He added, "That was then. I'm not proud of it, let's put it that way." Cowell also noted that while he doesn't revisit old clips online, he understands that his controversial moments contributed significantly to the show's global popularity.
Looking Forward: The Search for a New Boy Band
Cowell's reflective comments arrive just one week before the premiere of his highly anticipated Netflix docuseries, Simon Cowell: The Next Act. The six-part series, which will be available to stream in full on 10 December 2025, follows Cowell as he attempts to discover and build the next major boy band, echoing his past successes with groups like One Direction and Little Mix.
In the series trailer, Cowell expresses a desire to return to his roots in artist development. "As much as I love my job on TV, I miss where I started, signing artists and working with bands," he says. "There is a massive opportunity: I am going to find a new boy band." The documentary will track the entire process from open casting calls to the release of the group's debut single, with Cowell quipping, "If this goes wrong, it will be 'Simon Cowell has lost it.'"
This public apology and introspective look mark a new chapter for the iconic judge, blending a reckoning with his past television persona with a forward-looking venture into the future of music talent scouting.
