Simon Cowell 'washes his hands' of Cheryl Cole after X Factor snub

By Lara Gould


Separate lives: Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell (pictured together X Factor UK in 2010) have had no contact since she was sacked from X Factor USA


Her sizzling on-screen chemistry with Simon Cowell was cited as the reason she landed a £2 million contract on X Factor USA.

But two months after being humiliatingly sacked from the series, Cheryl Cole has apparently had no contact with her former mentor, severing all ties with the man once credited as making her a star.

A source close to the former Girls Aloud singer, who is in Los Angeles on an extended sabbatical, says despite 51-year-old Cowell planning to fly out to the city in the next two weeks, the pair have ‘no plans to meet up either now or in the foreseeable future’.

Friends no more? Simon and Cheryl at the 2011 Fox Upfront Presentation shortly before it was announced that Cheryl had been dropped from X Factor USA


The source said: ‘They have both moved on with their lives. She hasn’t spoken to him and they have no plans to see each other in America.’

Miss Cole once described Cowell as ‘one of the most important people in my life’ in an interview with Mail on Sunday columnist Piers Morgan last year.

She went on to say: ‘He’s annoying, but I do love him.’

But the rift which was triggered by her sacking from X Factor USA is said to have widened after the singer publicly rekindled her relationship with her ex-husband, Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole, at her 28th birthday party in London earlier this month.

A source close to Cowell said: ‘Cheryl is the last person on Simon Cowell’s mind at the moment. The party line if anyone in Simon’s group of friends is asked about her is to say, “Cheryl is still a star”.

‘He doesn’t want to talk about Cheryl and they know not to bring her name up.

'He will never openly criticise her but there is no relationship between them now.’

After being sacked in May, a move understood to have been ordered by senior executives at the Fox TV network, it was claimed Miss Cole refused to take calls from Cowell and X Factor representatives – a move that led ITV to withdraw its offer for her to resume her job on the panel of the British series.

Cheryl and Ashley Cole married in 2005, but split four years later after he was accused of cheating with five different women.

Cowell was said to have encouraged Miss Cole to leave the marriage, which ended in divorce last September, claiming it would harm her chances of success in America if she stayed with her husband.

Replaced: Nicole Scherzinger (second from right), who replaced Cheryl on the show, with fellow judges L.A. Reid Paula Abdul and Simon


source:dailymail

The gloves are off! Simon Cowell mocks American Idol in cheeky X Factor USA ad

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Pretty in pink: Cowell's sweater and sincere gaze echo the demeanour of Idol judge Jennifer Lopez in the spoof


Applauding and praising tuneless auditions, cosying up to fellow judges, driving an environmentally-friendly car and wearing a pink jumper - it all adds up to Simon Cowell's worst nightmare.

But there is a seam of reality in the first X Factor USA promo, because the crew are cheekily sending up Cowell's former U.S. show, American Idol.

The action opens in an audition room that looks suspiciously like the hotel room used in the hit show, and the panel of judges are dressed in pastel hues, a favourite palette of Jennifer Lopez.


Emotive: Nicole Scherzinger mirrors Lopez' encouraging hand gestures


An immediate focus on positivity is evident - which was the all pervading force of the last Idol series, even between the judges, thanks to the sardonic British producer's departure.

Simon, clad in cotton candy cashmere, leads the way by lavishing praise upon awful acts and holding hands with Paula Abdul, while all the judges make emotional gesticulations, like the Idol Panel.

But perhaps the most obvious dig is Paula Abdul's opening remark that the young girl who murders Tomorrow from the film Annie has 'spirit.'


Parody: The X Factor crew send up their Idol counterparts


Detail: Even the drinks on the judges' table in Idol was echoed in the skit


This is most definitely Simon Cowell setting out his stall, the promo implicitly promises that the X Factor USA will have the edge over all over other talent shows.

And as the X Factor is on Fox, the same network as Idol, it's a typically audacious piece of bombast from the celebrated producer.


Rude awakening: With his face in his hands, Simon Cowell wakes up in his luxurious bedroom after a nightmare about the X Factor USA


Thank God for that! A look of relief on his face, Simon snaps back into reality


The promo opens with Simon sitting with his fellow X Factor judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A Reid, wearing a pink cable knit jumper.

A small girl then presents herself to them and starts to sing Tomorrow from Annie very badly.

But rather than cut her off after a couple of notes, Simon patiently waits for her to finish, claps and says, 'That's what I've been waiting for.'

Abdul, to Simon's left, praises the plucky child's spirit, and as the camera pans to the dream-breaker, there's a sharp intake of breath.


No more Mr Nasty Guy? Simon Cowell wears pink and applauds contestant in the new preview for X Factor USA


Times a changing: The new cuddly Simon gets a kiss from Paula Abdul in the new promo


New Look: The panel. including Simon, Nicole and L.A Reid appear to have gone soft



Lucky girl: The awful rendition of Annie would usually have earned her a rejection


A New Decade: 'It's not about me, it's about them,' Simon insists


Eat my dust: The back of Simon's Bugatti, with personalised number plate is seen whizzing past


Jet Set: The team mean business as they are seen strutting away from their private jet


Welsh boy done good: Host Steve Jones (far right) joins the team as they head into the studio


Primed and ready: The four judges will be ready to find a new pop star when the show air on September 21


'We wanted to make something which showed what the show ‘could’ have been, my nightmare basically, then transitioning into what we really are and I thought it would be fun to make that.

'I literally really imagined my worst nightmare, and I put myself into that place and it was that.. Me, loving this song, Paula and I holding hands and I’m now turning into Paula everything is just... awful!. I just suspended my disbelief!'

The X Factor has it's two-Night Series premiere Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8/7c and Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8/7c on FOX.




source: dailymail