Simon Cowell as soon as stood on the very prime of British leisure, shaping chart-topping stars and constructing among the greatest TV expertise reveals of a technology. 

Nevertheless, his newest try at a comeback along with his Netflix documentary has taken a pointy and painful flip, leaving followers and insiders nervous. 

What was meant to be a contemporary begin has as an alternative introduced harsh evaluations, outdated accusations, and renewed questions on how he handled individuals alongside the way in which. 

Now, Cowell is dealing with a storm in contrast to something he has managed earlier than.

Cowell loved years of unmatched fame, particularly throughout “The X Issue” period when greater than ten million viewers tuned in every weekend. 

He created one of many greatest boy bands on this planet, One Path, and helped launch stars like Little Combine, Leona Lewis, Olly Murs, and JLS. 

At events, the highlight naturally drifted towards him, and even stars like Coldplay’s Chris Martin light into the background at any time when Cowell entered the room.

Nevertheless, his new six-part Netflix documentary, “Simon Cowell: The Subsequent Act,” has introduced a really completely different response. 

Hours after the present was launched, main retailers gave brutal rankings. The Guardian and The Telegraph each delivered one-star evaluations, with the latter calling the collection “as flat as his hairdo.” 

The Impartial added that “Simon Cowell is a person out of time in his unhappy and bleak present.” 

These evaluations poured in regardless of the present efficiently forming a boy band referred to as December 10, who signed with Island Information.

In keeping with a report from the Day by day Mail, buddies of Simon Cowell fear these feedback will hit him laborious. 

One former affiliate mentioned, “He was the kingmaker, he was a genius, however his comeback doesn’t appear to have gone down very properly.” 

One other described him as a “management freak” who’s used to applause, not criticism. 

In keeping with them, the response might go away him questioning whether or not the venture was price it.

Cowell’s comeback additionally reopens outdated wounds for individuals who labored with him. Former “X Issue” contestant Katie Waissel publicly criticized him after a current Rolling Stone interview. 

She accused the present of “systemic pressures, relentless work schedules, emotional manipulation, public shaming buildings and unregulated high-stress environments.” 

Her feedback appeared in an NME article that was later deleted, main her to name the removing “disturbing and disgusting.”

Cowell’s group has lengthy argued that he gave younger artists life-changing alternatives. 

Nevertheless, the criticisms make it clear that not everybody remembers their time on the present positively. 

Even successful artists have struggled. Liam Payne, a member of One Path, tragically died in 2024 after years of drug difficulties. 

Some declare the group’s demanding schedule throughout their early rise added to his troubles.

As well as, the TV persona’s relationships with coworkers have been typically difficult. Cheryl Cole was harm after being fired from the U.S. “X Issue” simply weeks into its launch. 

A good friend mentioned, “She was distraught. It was humiliating and so embarrassing for her,” particularly as she was going by way of a painful divorce on the time. 

Cole refused to return to the UK present afterward and later sued for misplaced earnings earlier than settling in 2013. 

She finally got here again in 2014, however the emotional harm had already been finished.

Cole wasn’t the one individual left unsettled by Simon Cowell’s choices. 

In Tom Bower’s ebook “Candy Revenge: The Intimate Lifetime of Simon Cowell,” Cowell allowed particulars a few secret affair with choose Dannii Minogue to be printed. 

The ebook shared how he described her as “cunning” and talked about her “attractive garments,” saying he felt like a “schoolboy” round her.

A number of hosts have been additionally affected by the 66-year-old’s unpredictable strategies. Kate Thornton and Dermot O’Leary left the present in 2007 and 2015, with Thornton reportedly given nearly no discover. 

In keeping with an insider, “Simon stored individuals dangling proper up till days earlier than a present started. Then he would both signal them or not. It drove individuals mad. It at all times felt like such an influence transfer.”

Simon Cowell additionally clashed with journalists. One reporter mentioned his group barred them from “X Issue” studios after they wrote a narrative he didn’t like. His publicist even pushed for the journalist to be fired.