Already have an account?
Get back to the

Simon Cowell: I Thought My Son Hated Me

Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell arrives at NBC's "America's Got Talent" Season 11 kickoff event on March 3, 2016.

Simon Cowell used to feel like he was being judged by his son, Eric. 

“For the first six months, I honestly thought, [this] is the most one-sided conversation I’ve ever had in my life, I’m not getting anything back here. Maybe he hates me,” the America’s Got Talent judge joked to Us Weekly on Thursday, March 3 at the show’s premiere taping in Pasadena, California. “And then after about a year and a half, suddenly, you get this connection. And they start talking to you. And you can teach them things. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Related: PHOTOS: American Idol Judges: Then & Now

The sharp-tongued Brit — who shares Eric, 2, with girlfriend Lauren Silverman — is now an expert on all things Disney.

“We like watching movies together. Jungle Book we’ve seen 1,800 times,” the star, 56, told Us. “We’re on to Shrek now.”

The proud papa continued: “He likes art. He loves animals. … He’s a happy boy.”

But Cowell insists fatherhood hasn’t turned him soft. At least not when it comes to America’s Got Talent.

“If [we] get young, young kids, [I’m]* not going to be horribly mean to them,” Cowell told Us. “Having said that, if someone comes out and can’t sing, I’m not going to say [they] can.”

Cowell took over Howard Stern’s empty spot on season 11 of AGT. The NBC talent competition is hosted by Nick Cannon, and judged by Cowell, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B.

The former American Idol judge and Silverman welcomed Eric on February 14, 2014. Us exclusively broke the news of the New York City socialite’s pregnancy. 

Related: PHOTOS: American Idol Winners

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!