Simon Cowell is getting a firestorm of public backlash after an interview he did with Ryan Seacrest on the nationally syndicated radio show "On Air With Ryan Seacrest" on Sept. 24, 2013. In the interview, Cowell (who is 53) said he refuses to witness the birth of his first child. He also dropped a major hint that he's going to marry his 36-year-old pregnant lover Lauren Silverman, a New York socialite who got pregnant with Cowell's child while she was married to her first husband, Andrew Silverman, who was a close friend of Cowell's. She is reportedly due to give birth to Cowell's child in February 2014.
There's a rumor that Cowell paid off Andrew Silverman in the settlement of Lauren and Andrew's quickie divorce in August 2013. (The settlement was reached one month after Andrew filed for divorce.) Most of the terms of the divorce settlement were not publicly disclosed, but lawyers for the former spouses issued statements that Andrew and Lauren are sharing custody of their 7-year-old son, Adam.
Many people are predicting that if Cowell marries Lauren Silverman, the marriage will also end in divorce. She is currently living in a luxury Manhattan apartment reportedly paid for by Cowell, who says that their child will be raised in London, Los Angeles and New York. In September 2013, paparazzi snapped photos of Cowell and Lauren Silverman leaving an attorney's office in New York City, which has fueled speculation that she and Cowell have been working on a pre-nuptial agreement. At the very least, they have legal issues regarding the custody of their child.
Seacrest (who used to work with Cowell on "American Idol") is just like all the other people who have interviewed Cowell since the news broke about the affair: They have been fawning over Cowell and have avoided asking him about the adultery that caused the pregnancy. These interviewers act as if Cowell did nothing wrong in causing the breakup a marriage. (Lauren Silverman is equally at fault for the adultery.) In divorce papers, Andrew Silverman cited Cowell's adulterous affair with Lauren as the reason for the divorce. Andrew also said that Lauren subjected him to "cruel and inhumane" treatment.
Cowell has been telling the media an entirely different version of what Lauren is like. He keeps saying in interviews that she's "a great girl." Keep in mind that this is a 36-year-old woman who is the mother of Cowell's first child. And Cowell keeps calling her a "girl."
In his interview with Seacrest, Cowell said: "I genuinely never thought [being a father] was going to happen, partly because I was scared of who I was going to have kids with . . . [but] Lauren and I get along really well and once I got used to the idea I thought, 'I think this is going to be very good' ...Let's put it this way, I wouldn't expect her to be a single mother."
"When Seacrest asked if Cowell he is going to witness the birth of his first child, Cowell answered, "Are you out of your mind? I know this sounds awful, but it's like you don't want to go in to the restaurant while they're making your dinner. I think there are certain things you shouldn't see and that is one of them. I'll be very close by, but no [I won't watch]."
In September 2013, Lauren Silverman's mother told E! News that the child is a boy, but in interviews, Cowell will not confirm or deny the gender of the child. Cowell may have let it slip when he told Seacrest: "I said to Lauren, 'What if I just play me on tape while the baby is sleeping so the baby can hear me and have a British accent?' And his first words will be, 'You're absolutely useless!'"
As previously reported, Cowell has spoken out against accusations that Lauren Silverman is a gold digger who trapped him by getting pregnant. (The accusations were made by unidentified "friends" of Lauren Silverman who talked to the media.) In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Cowell also talked about how he's the happiest that he's ever been in his life. What he didn't talk about directly is the betrayal behind the pregnancy and how Silverman had an affair with Cowell while she was married to Cowell's close friend Andrew Silverman. Cowell has never been married.
As previously reported, the majority of the people on the Internet who have commented on the Cowell/Silverman affair have expressed disgust about the homewrecking betrayal that Cowell and Lauren Silverman caused with their adulterous affair.
Cowell and his other siblings were born as the result of their parents having adulterous affairs. Apparently, this is the Cowell way of life to have children through adultery. That doesn't mean it's OK to act this way, especially when a lot of other people get deliberately hurt.
As for the speculation that Lauren is a gold digger, Cowell (who is worth about $380 million, according to the Sunday Times Rich List) dismissed the gold digger claims in his interview with DeGeneres, who did some celebrity butt-kissing by telling Cowell how hard everything must have been on Lauren. (What about Andrew and Adam Silverman and other members of the Silverman family? It's appalling how none of these interviewers seem to care about the real victims in this situation.)
Cowell glibly commented, "I can't blame the media because it was what I call a juicy story. But there's a lot that was said about her, like that she trapped me, that she's a gold digger, and that's absolute nonsense. She's a great girl. Like I said, it was awkward because of the circumstances. She's thrilled. Really, really thrilled ... I'm happy. I'm actually happier than I've ever been!"
For many people speaking out against Cowell and who have lost respect for him, the worst part about Cowell's behavior is that he doesn't seem to be very sorry at all for the damage he has caused since he keeps saying that he's "happier" than he's ever been. Happy that your actions helped ruin a marriage of a close friend and left that friend's child with a broken home? That is so selfish and wrong.
Cowell is obviously very out of touch with how many viewers have been turned off by his actions, as he continues to act unapologetic about his damaging behavior. Meanwhile, the public backlash against him is apparent as "The X Factor" U.S. continues on a downward spiral in its ratings: The show's third season (which began on Sept. 11, 2013), is the show's lowest-rated ever, averaging about 6 million U.S. viewers per episode, which is a staggering 50 percent decrease from what the show was averaging in its first season in 2011, and a 33 percent decrease from what the show was averaging in its second season in 2012. Many people are saying they refuse to watch any show that Cowell is on because they are sick of Cowell and his arrogant, obnoxious behavior on TV and in his personal life.
Here is a sampling of reactions on the Internet regarding Cowell's interview with Seacrest:
From Yahoo!
"Sorry, but only a man who is a complete piece of $h*t and has no morals or integrity would have an affair with an alleged friend's wife. just goes to prove the adage: money cannot buy class."
"He got trapped, no way was this a planned pregnancy....LOL!! what a loser not wanting to see his baby born. He also said he won't change diapers...he is going to be a lousy father. Poor kid."
"Both of these people are filthy trash. She betrayed her husband with his so-called best friend. It would serve her right to find out he's cheating on her and he would lose millions paying off her in a divorce
"Cowell should change his name to COWARD! LOL"
"If a man looks at another Man's Wife or Girl-friend or a woman looks at another woman's Husband or Boyfriend in a lustful matter, it is call Adultery.
"After all the super hot women Simon has dated, this is the woman who finally traps him lol It serves him right effing over his best friend like that.
"All I can think of when I see him is the line from the talk show in Shaun of the Dead. "Do you SLEEP with it?"
"Simon is #$%$ bag."
"As the saying goes, "With a friend like Simon, who needs enemies ?"
"Marrying a Ho?and sleeping with ur friends wife? ingredients of a great future.."
"What does Lauren Silverman care if he's in the room or not? Look at the kind of person she is. She's going to be financially set for the rest of her life, plus she's having this jerk's kid. He has enough money to pay her off, support the child, and then go on his merry way. This isn't a traditional relationship. No fairy tale here.
"Simon Coward."
"Big red flags here. He impregnates a married woman but won't be at the birth; it's not just for the baby and bonding, Mr Cowell, it is to support the woman who is going through agony to birth your baby. You will wound her if you are not there and those wounds are not forgotten."
"I really hope that this child will be happy and healthy and that the parents finally realize the responsibility involved in raising children. As for the two of them, I have no real interest in either of them."
"He sounds like such a selfish #$%$"
"Get along really well - and he knocked her up - while she was married - yep, sounds like a long term marriage to me."
"Won't be present for his childs birth? This guy is a total A..H..E!"
"I think Simon is so shallow that if he did see the child being born he would be one of those men who never wants to have sex with their wives again."
"Wow! Not only did he have an affair and knocked up his best friends wife BUT he won't even witness his child's birth. What a piece of ***t husband and father ..."
"Sounds like the attitude of a man who had the audacity to impregnate his best friend's wife, is now outed to the world and is looking for a way to appear respectable. Marriage is hard and for a couple to start out in this manner bodes ill for a long lasting marriage. He should be telling the world that he loves her. He sounds indecisive and after all this to let her be alone while giving birth to his child seems cold at the very least."
"Simon did Not want kids!! They will steal his spotlight just like he stole his Best friends wife!! Karma Cowell."
"This wont end pretty."
"He did the job at the beginning, no need to see the end product."
"He was trapped. She's a gold digger & trapped him. No, it isn't right that they cheated. It isn't right that he did that to his friend & her to her husband. However, SHE is in charge of her body & whether or not she can get pregnant. Simon should get a dna test."
"Ah Simon, you self absorbed fool. It's fun makin em, but hey!, now you gotta raise em? Yeah, you're a role model, lol."
"I guess good ol Simon doesn't wanna "judge" his girlfriend giving birth...I do say I give it a 8.5 out of 10 there honey!"
"I like Simon like I like bad breath."
From Us Weekly:
"Wow. Spoken like a true jacka$$"
"Well, I never liked him, however, it can affect men, even menstruation! Some men see the birthing and lose interest in sex."
"Watching someone give birth is nothing watching someone in a resturant cook your meal. That's a very odd analogy."
"He's a very odd idiotic man."
"And the PR spin continues......will believe it when the marriage actually takes place. Simon is saying all the right things now but time will tell."
"He is 'saying all the right things now'? Based on comments I have read on this topic I really don't think he's been accused of saying anything right."
"Men like that are lame & weak. He can be there and not actually watch the baby come out. He can advert his eyes for goodness sake and focus on providing support."
"So true, he could be in the room providing support but not watching the actual birth. He doesn't have to have a camera up her va jay jay the whole time."
"Yes, heaven forbid he actually be there to support his girlfriend/mistress/whatever she is while she gives birth to their child. Of course it's tough but they do it anyway."
"HEY Simon X Factor SUCKS, what a guffaw Simon could not get any A list celebrities or A list singers to be judges, so Simon got Z list NO NAMES and NO TALENT judges to judge talent what a JOKE. HEY Fox just cancel this BIG FLOP NOW."
