The End of Simon Cowell and American Idol??

XJW4EVR

One can only hope after this.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash6i.htm

COWELL ROLLS EYES AFTER 'IDOL' CONTESTANT SENDS CONDOLENCES
Wed Apr 18 2007 08:30:40 ET

Fans were enraged and FOX affiliates were fielding complaints late Tuesday after AMERICA IDOL judge Simon Cowell was caught on camera rolling his eyes after comments made by contestant Chris Richardson -- comments about the tragic VIRGINIA 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 audience of the nation's top-rated TV show.

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," a top production source told the DRUDGE REPORT.[VIDEO]Cowell's flippant reaction came after he critiqued Richardson for a "nasally" performance of the Rascal Flatts song "Mayburry."

But Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer of 'IDOL', says Simon was not reacting to Chris.

In a statement given exclusively to the DRUDGE REPORT, Lythgoe explains:

"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."

Earlier, a FOX executive said: "Look, in his defense, Simon felt Chris was cynically deflecting his criticism...It was unfortunate... he clearly was unaware the camera was on him when he rolled his eyes."

A backstage source defends Richardson: "Chris decided earlier in the day that he was going to give a shoutout to his friends.. he is hurting."

Developing...

OnTheWayOut

Simon felt Chris was cynically deflecting his criticism...It was unfortunate... he clearly
was unaware the camera was on him when he rolled his eyes."

I agree with the above statement. Some people can be so touchy. If I were to say that the American government is
hated around the world, many times for just cause, the average American might get all mad at me.

What Don Imus said was wrong, but it wasn't intended as an actual comparison with prostitutes.

All Simon did was a natural reaction to a contestant trying to make a statement when he was being judged.
America will forget Simon's looking away and rolling his eyes, unless Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and the
media don't let America forget.

Finally-Free

America will forget Simon's looking away and rolling his eyes,

Yep. I haven't watched American Idol in over 3 years. Simon is extremely forgettable.

W

choosing life

Don't watch American idol and Simon is so obviously after only one thing and that is how much money he can make off of other people.

I watched the video clip, but I can't tell what Simon is reacting to. I do think we need to quit filming and analyzing every second of a person's life. There have been too many occassions when one slip of the tongue has ruined people's entire careers. It reminds me of 1984 and the far reaching eyes of Big Brother.

We need to go back and learn that people have a right to privacy and do accassionally act in a bad manner. We all do.

XJW4EVR

I have watched American Idol once or twice, and never really cared one way or the other for the show. I have better things to do than wonder where the next lollipop singer will come from.

theinfamousone

simon rolls his eyes all the time... sometimes i wonder if it is a twitch of some sort... either way, i know he wouldnt have done that on purpose, cuz he knows very well how much shit this could cause

5go

jayhawk1

Every year, I hope American Idol has "jumped the shark." Every year it comes back. Why won't this show die already?

LittleToe

Unfortunately this is just another incident that will be blown out of all proportion, as the media snips away all the context to maintain a headline.

Cowell doesn't come across as the kindest of people, but I highly doubt that folks can genuinely level charges, of ambivilance to hurt families in a tragedy, at him. Any negative gesture is almost certain to have been directed towards the singer, not the killings. An unguarded moment of frustration - yes; an intentional slight - no.

But I suspect it will not be allowed to rest for a couple of days at least, while it is milked dry...

Crumpet

it was on the news this morning and it showed that he was reacting to another one of Paula's inane comments off camera and not even listening to Chris.

The End of Simon Cowell and American Idol??

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