Smallscreen News
Idol's Simon Cowell in Virginia Tech storm
Apr 19, 2007, 11:10 GMT
Simon Cowell - Los Angeles, CA © Glenn Harris / Photorazzi
Simon Cowell has denied he rolled his eyes when an 'American Idol' contestant paid tribute to the Virginia Tech massacre victims.
The judge was caught on camera making a face at fellow judge Paula Abdul when contestant Chris Richardson interrupted Simon's critique of his "nasal-y" singing to pay tribute to those killed in the horrific campus shooting, in which 33 people died.
Simon told 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest on his radio show: "We must address this crazy story that appeared that I rolled my eyes disrespectfully at Chris because he made the comment.
"The truth is that I had switched off at that point. I was saying to Paula, 'What does he mean he was singing nasal-y on purpose?' I didn't understand what he was saying.
"So I hadn't even heard what he'd said afterwards. And my eye rolling is what I was saying to Paula. I have never heard so much rubbish.
"You know what, half of the time I can't hear what they are saying, and I don't think they can hear what I am saying."
Richardson had defended his performance, before he said: "My heart and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. Be strong."
The camera then cut to Simon's seemingly insensitive look.
The British music mogul has now commended Richardson for his comments.
He said: "Chris was right to have said what he said because he is from that neck of the woods and if I would have heard what he said I would have responded properly to that.
"The irony was that we discussed this before the show and wondered, 'What do you do in a situation like this when something terrible happens? Do you ignore it?'
"Ryan Seacrest wanted to say something in the beginning, which I think was right. And I thought we should do something at the end to sort of close it. I wanted to say to the kids it was a difficult week for everybody."
Ryan added: "Let's just be honest, no human being would be that disrespectful to anybody involved in that awful tragedy."
(C) BANG Media International
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Smallscreen
- 1. HLN’S Evening Express programming for week of June 4
- 2. FX's 'Anger Management' latest preview, 'Confessional' (VIDEO)
- 3. Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 launches Monday, details (VIDEO)
- 4. TV Land's 'Happily Divorced' finale with Ralph Macchio (VIDEO)
- 5. 'Hell's Kitchen' back for season 10, Ramsay still hot under collar (VIDEO)
Older Talkback
page: 1
i know simon cowell is known as 'mr nasty' but theres no way that he would roll his eyes to what the lad said about the shooting in virginia. he was simply rolling his eyes about the lads performance, he didnt even hear what the lad said.
People are getting shot and getting fired and getting sued all based on 'He said something mean' because the whole world is a bunch of freakin sissys. Life sucks get a f***ing helmet.
From the article:
'The judge was caught on camera making a face at fellow judge Paula Abdul when contestant (Chris Richardson interrupted Simon's critique of his 'nasal-y' singing to pay tribute to those killed in the horrific campus shooting,) in which 33 people died.'
I don't watch American Idol but if this article is correct and Chris Richardson did in fact interrupt Simon's critique to pay tribute then I would say Simon was more than justified in making a look.
Chris could have at the beginning dedicated his piece to them or at the end of his piece paid his tribute. But to interrupt the judges critique when Chris himself asked and appeared on the show in order to receive the critique is simply disrespectful; disrespectful of both the judges and the show as well as those killed at VA Tech.
Chris Richardson clearly had other avenues for getting his tribute out and to specifically choose when Simon was giving his critique and furthermore to interrupt him to do so is deceitful and quite sad.
Even sadder is that some writer/reporter/journalist somewhere is giving Chris Richardson anything but contempt for being a rude and deceitful human being.
I believe that the press should be ashamed of themselves for making abig deal of this issue. Simon was purely justified
Chris picked the wrong time to speak out about Virginia Tech and offer his sympathies. He was in the middle of being critiqued by Simon and should have respected the judge enough to wait until that particular conversation was done. That he acknowledged the tragedy was not the problem, it's when he acknowledged it that caused the problems. Simon is not as heartless as people would label him to be and I'm sure he is hurting for the families of the victims of Virgina Tech just as the rest of us are. And no offense, Chris, but I rolled my eyes at your comments as well. You came off nasally and Simon was right to comment on it. I'm thinking you figured you were off the show this week and you were putting in your two cents while you still had time to make a comeback at Simon. Just bad timing.
page: 1
stuApr 19th, 2007 - 11:18:15
would everyone stop talking about this guy.
Report this comment