Smallscreen News
Simon Cowell in hot water over eye roll
By Stone Martindale Apr 18, 2007, 16:13 GMT
Simon Cowell -Westwood, CA © Glenn Harris / Photorazzi
Sometimes a poker face can save you a great deal of trouble. "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell unfortunately let his eyes roll and tapped annoyingly as Idol cotnestant Chris Richardson, a Virginia native, expressed his condolences and shock on stage last night.
Fans apparently caught Cowell's annoyance and became enraged as FOX affiliates were fielding complaints late Tuesday.
Drudge reports that Cowell was caught on camera rolling his eyes after comments made by contestant Chris Richardson -- comments about the tragic Va. Tech shootings.
"My heart and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. Be strong," Richardson, a Chesapeake, Virginia native, told the Idol audience.
A quick camera shot showed Cowell rolling his eyes and impatiently tapping his hand on the table.
Backstage, contestant Chris Richardson was left stunned, calling Simon's reaction "sad and hurtful," an insider production company source told Matt Drudge.
Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer of 'IDOL', says Simon was not reacting to Chris. Judge-for-yourself
Lythgoe explains exclusively to Matt Drudge:
"This is a sad time for everyone, so it is especially disheartening that a quick camera cutaway could have been misinterpreted. We're sorry for any grief caused by this misunderstanding, but Simon was not reacting to Chris at that point. He had turned to speak to Paula and didn't actually hear Chris' final comments."
Lythgoe continues: "Everyone at 'AMERICAN IDOL' feels compassion for those affected by this tragedy. We opened the show with those thoughts and Simon later expressed sincere condolences on behalf of the judges, recognizing the challenges we all face in dealing with this horrible event."
Another production company snitch told Drudge: "Chris decided earlier in the day that he was going to give a shoutout to his friends.. he is hurting."
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I woudl expect nothing less from this idiot. Self-centered personified!
If it was an eye roll i believe the point would have been that the media had covered this enough and that this guy should stick to trying to win ai.
This guy should be fired from american idol. All he knows is to CRITICIZE everyone. If he thinks he is the real man...he should hold the MIC in front of the camera and try to sing coz he is also in the same field :))
Simon wasn't really rolling his eyes. They can't do that at that age. It's just gas.
I don't watch this stupid show but I know, from being subjected to this moron Cowell's words and actions in the media for the past 4 years, that this latest incident is very much par for the course for him. He is a hateful, uncaring, often purposely malicious idiot. I would say send him back to the UK but they don't want him there either.
My advice... hateful, hurtful people like this have been given TOO MUCH POWER in this country. WE need to take the power back. Stop rewarding their behavior. STOP watching/listening to/hitting their websites, and demand they be held accountable.
People like this DO affect our society in an extremely negative way. Lets DO something about it. The apathy of good, caring people is what will eventually harm society beyond repair.
For myself, I plan to completely embrace and uplift those who are doing positive, uplifting things in this world, while 100% rejecting(loudly!) ANY form of hateful, hurtful, destructive behavior. I've had enough.
peace
Of course, Simon is a jerk.... but anyone who thinks that he was disrespecting the victims or families of tis tragedy is just not being honest with themselves and is just grabbing for straws because they hate him and are trying to do whatever it takes to get rid of him. I say get a life!!!
the solution is simple.... just gouge the goddamn eyes out of their place....
Simon was not rolling his eyes out of any disrespect for the VT Students. That being said, I don't fully buy his explination that he was rolling his eyes at the 'Nasily' comment either.
Those who watch the show see it all the time, Simon simply has no love for contestants who are trying to get extra votes by appealing for sympathy. Before I knew Chris was from VA, and I'm sure Simon didn't have that in his mind either, it clearly appeared to be a weak attempt to get a few votes on Chris' part. The entire exchange was very awkward, with Chris defending his performance as 'Nasily on Purpose.' The comment about VT in the closing moments of the exchange really seemed to be a poor attempt to change the subject. If Chris really was doing that, he totally deserved worse than seeing Simon's eyes roll. In hindsight, after learning Chris is from VA, his comments seem more sincere. It's all about how you present yourself, not what you say.
honestly this silly media fabricated outpouring of guilt and sorrow is categorically silly. who really cares if a couple of kids got killed? (answer: those that knew them) while the dude may not have been very pc, the idiot that tried to win sympathy by bringing the topic up should probably dumped from idols altogether.
It appeared to me that Simon was reacting to the opportunistic contestant who was clearly using the VA Tech tragedy as a cheap way to get votes and applause.
Like him or not, Simon is the only one who consistently gives an honest review. I don't like his mannerisms either, but it's obvious that he was rolling his eye at a lame attemtp by Chris to change the subject when he was being criticized and had nothing to do with VA tech. Think about it, why the hell would ANYONE roll their eyes at that horrible tragedy. Imus was ONLY fired becuase of corporate pullout. His producers couldn't care less about the comment he made, just the revenue they could loose. Otherwise, they would have fired him immediately. Oh, and WHO IS GOING TO FIRE SIMON-It's HIS show!!
If everyone wasn't so quick to judge in this country, it would be a better place.
Simon wasn't rolling his eyes at Chris. He and Paula were conversing about Chris's performance, and he rolled his eyes at something Paula said, and there was a very unfortunate camera switch.
Also, even if he had rolled his eyes, he wouldn't have been doing so in disrespect, he would've been doing it because he saw Chris's statement as one meant to get him more votes.
Could all of you wannabe politically correct brainless whiny pusses please stop cluttering the media with your crying? Chris should be voted off for boring us with his sappy off-topic BS speech and Simon should be applauded for being the only straight shooter on this pathetic circus of a show.
Oh gods come ON people. It's what he d o e s for a living, and the rest of you WATCH the show and PAY him for it, however indirectly. Please. This is the type of person he is, and he has never apologized for it. He is better than half the people in America right now pretending they even remotely understand what's happening here in the U.S, including what went down in Virginia, and elsewhere every day.
Mr. Cowel is a douche.. But at least he doesnt't hide it.
Good God don't you people know by now that NOTHING... NOT ONE THING happens on that show that isn't scripted? The whole ignorant show is a farce but that being said, I find Simon a refreshing, normally CORRECT about the talent and/or lack thereof. He just isn't politically correct. Well GOOD. Finally somebody who doesn't sugar coat the facts. Face it, he's the ONLY entertainment the stupid show has people.
And the eye-roll was WELL deserved. How dare some goon who happens to be from VA use the FOX system's time to express he personal grief. Get a counselor. Should all the folks from TX get up there and express an opinion about Waco.
How about you CO folks. Wanna cry about the Littleton incident. NY'ers, wanna give us a 911 dissertation?
Whiners. The world is a tough and hard place to live in and fate nor nature care anything for your religious missives. Living in the world today is not for sissies... get on with it or get off the bus.
Simon rolls his eyes all of the time. He explained the reason for it, so get over it. I agree with the person who said that people don't like Simon, therefore they look for anything to use against him. I think that it was bad timing on Chris' part to say what he said. That too can be taken as trying to get more votes. It's a TV show, get over it. If you dont like it, don't watch it. If you don't watch it, don't make sarcastic comments.
Not only did Simon roll his eyes, but the production company spokesman tried to explain away the obvious displeasure Simon had with the contestant. Which makes me glad again that I don't watch this show.
I personally don't see why anyone with any sense would watch Simon anyway. Look at all the people they would get to watch if they kicked him off the show.
Everyone looks to Simon for his opinion because he is open and honest. If he were going to communicate something in disrespect, he would have simply made a comment. Simon was well aware of the VA Tech incident before the show; if he wanted to place himself in the center of a controversy that makes him look like the bad guy, he could have easily done so without the aid of a young singer with sinus probems.
There was obviously a side conversation off camera going on between Paula and Simon. Since many Americans watch AI in their living rooms, many apparently think the stage is the same size.
This perceived slight and the quickly ensuing controversy probably was a factor in keeping that little nasal whiner Chris in the competition.
I actually like the kid, he reminds me of my son. However, if my beloved son was on American Idol doing a faux Justin Timberlake routine every week thru his nose I would B____ Slap him off the stage.
beetlejesus
Over 200plus innocent victims of America's War of Folly dead in Iraq.
Not one peep or eyeroll controversy.
A few kids in Virginia were also killed and the world has to stop because they are American?
Simon never said the Fugly no-hopper was a monkey - yet the attention-seeker went blabbing all over the airwaves saying Simon called him a monkey.
No one seemed brave enough to correct him, having seen the video footage, that Bush Baby and Monkey are not the same things.
I agree with the other writer... Rewarding this idiot's nasty and rude behavior leads to nothing positive. When will the 'Sheeple' quick kissing this little jerk's ass and send him back to England with that other nasty piece of trash, the 'Weakest Link' lady? America grew tired of her sour Butt too...
page: 1
DaveApr 18th, 2007 - 17:25:00
They should fire cowell like they fired imus
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