Simon Cowell Admits: I Was Wrong About Susan Boyle

Mail Online:

during the final show, at the crucial point when the dance group Diversity won, I looked over at her face and thought: 'Christ, she doesn't know how to deal with not winning.'

It was a bad moment. Afterwards, I went over and gave her a hug and tried to reassure her. 'Susan,' I said, 'my offer to record an album with you still stands.' And we agreed that we would work together; that it wasn't the end of the road for her.

After that, I left the studio. I remember having a drink that night and trying to relax, but still feeling a bit strange. Something just didn't feel right. And sure enough, it wasn't.

Read the whole story: Mail Online

Comments

[Texas4Obama]

Update on the BGT's first place winners Diversity...

JACKO [Michael Jackson] signed Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity as support act for his London shows days before he died, The Sun can reveal.

The dance troupe - whose moves were inspired by the superstar - were to have been paid 10,000 'pounds' a night. The 50 shows at the O2 were worth a whopping 500,000 'pounds'.

A source close to the dancers said: "The boys signed their deal last week. They were over the moon. It was a once-in-a-lifetime gig."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2510096/Diversity-were-on-bill-at-O2.html

[dyebat]

From the time Susan Boyle's audition was aired until the present, poor Simon has been a day late & a dollar short in his reaction to the media frenzy surrounding her. Her stress was not due to losing; it began when the tabloids began insulting her, questioning her mental health, stalking & provoking her. BGT sent down a bodyguard to help her out in Blackburn; apparently he disappeared when she was dumped into the lions' den in the London hotel where all the contestants were housed. They continued to treat her as an ordinary contestant when she was not. No other contestants were hounded by the press & public as she was. They still aren't

No one could have predicted this. Susan should never have been sent unguarded into that hotel, but how could the promoters know that? They were not prepared to react to extraordinary circumstances. Ever since Susan collapsed from sleep deprivation, Simon has been generous in his support. I don't know if he's still grasped that it's Susan's supporters who are promoting her; he just needs to get out of the way & let the current flow, which is difficult for him. Teenagers come to see the acts of the young contestants, & go home as amazed fans of Susan. It will be interesting to see if Simon reacts to this, or if he will let his greatest protege slip through his fingers because he can't respond to a change in the wind, again.

[Texas4Obama]

SUSAN Boyle is being lined up for a guest role on this year's X Factor, host Dermot O'Leary told TV Biz yesterday. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/x_factor/2494988/Dermots-redSred-Factor.html

'PM cares for SuBo more than hostages' http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2493451/Gordon-Brown-cares-for-Susan-Boyle-more-than-hostages.html

[PoliticalAmazon]

Wow... a whole lot of rationalization going on with Mr. Crowell. I'm not sure why he felt he had to try to explain away the criticisms about him and his productions, but I don't think it did much good.

Clearly, he knows what he is doing when he exploits and ridicules performers. If he was such a good guy, like he tries to be in this self-serving article, he would not have continued his cruel criticisms over the years, and would have simply not had children on the show since they--not Mr. Crowell, of course--are so unpredictable and prone to crying on stage.

But he didn't do either of those things. He likes the finer things in life, and that's ducky. To pay for them, if he has to exploit amature performers and cruelly ridicule them before the world, that's his choice, too. After all, owning a private jet to ferry him across the Atlantic so he won't have to mix with the unwashed hoi polloi on commercial flights, may be, to him, worth all of the cruelty he has to inflict on others.

But I'd just as soon he just shut up about it and spare us his faux hurt rationalizations for his behavior, his show, and the obvious pain both have caused to people over the years.

[Milinda]

Texas4Obama, we all are entitled to our own opinions and courtesy would be that we allow each his/her own without criticism. You are very clear on how you feel about Susan Boyle which you let us know all the time.
You are an ardent fan of Greg Pritchard. While he has raw talent, he is NOWHERE near Philippe Jarousky or Randall Wong, to name a few. They are trained musically from childhood. Both hold degrees and are accomplished musicians.
As I see it, Greg is as disadvantaged as Susan in that he does not come from a background which allowed him to achieve that kind of early training.
Now, you love to point out that Susan is no better than any other singing church lady. But the fact remains, she IS the one with all the attention and the breaks at present, why can you not be happy for her and those who enjoy her? And as for Greg, he is an unpolished gem that most likely will not achieve the greatness you expect him to because there is not the large fan base for that type of music and he is up against far more polished and talented artists.

Here's where you and I differ: I wish Greg Pritchard all the luck in the world to find his niche and succeed. I would NEVER repeat malicious, unfounded gossip about the lad. You, OTOH, seem to malign Susan Boyle every chance you get. Why would you be so meanspirited,?

[Texas4Obama]

Milinda,
And we all know how you feel about SuBo and that you will defend her at every turn.
The thing is is this is not a SuBo fan club website.
People of differing points of view are allowed to comment here.
As far as unfounded gossip goes -- it appears that it has been the SuBo fans on this site that keep repeating the untrue rumor that SuBo has learning disabilities which even SuBo's own brother Jerry Boyle has said IS NOT TRUE.
I have not said anything on this website that has not been said by others here on this website or elsewhere on the internet.
Apparently you shall remain a fan of SuBo and I will not - and that is fine, but that is no reason for you to personally keep calling me out for not being a fan since I do not constantly bash you personally for being a fan ;)

Also, you said: "Now, you love to point out that Susan is no better than any other singing church lady..."
Yes, I do do that, especially when someone says that they think is the the greatest singer in the world. Anytime I see something that I do not agree with I will state my personal opinion.

[Milinda]

Fair enough, Texas. You are right. This is not a fan site for Miss Boyle. People are allowed to comment as they see fit, eve if what is being repeated is not the truth. I stand corrected.

And although I am a fan of Susan Boyle, I defend your right to the death to not be one. At least we voted for the same guy for president and I'd rather meet on common ground than be considered one who bashes you personally. I shall refrain from commenting on your comments in the future.

[Kiabell04]

I like Simon Cowell. I don't know why people choose to attack the man.

[xpub63]

This is a side of Simon never seen, and I musy say it's very impressive.

[KarateKid]

Sometimes, you have to be careful what you wish for, as it can come true.

[Alila]

It's not his fault that she couldn't handle the pressure.

[Bearangaria]

As I recall Simon said following Susan's performance...
"You're a little tiger aren't you?"
and Susan said..
"Oh I wouldna say that. No."
and he said
"Yes you are."
It was clear from the moment she walked onstage she
was a character, full of life, and struggling to find how
she should present herself. And then she sang.
There was every reason in the world to put her thru
to finals and every reason in the world to know she
would require special care and presentation.
They didn't make a mistake about Susan's talent
or her right to compete or go on. But once they
gave her the green light they did have a huge
responsibility to take good care of her.
Special handling? Why not.
The judges enjoy that much every day.

[PoliticalRockChick]

I read the article. This is the first time Simon had consideration. He even mentioned children on these shows. Some who go on to these shows that are very judgement are not psychologically prepared sometimes.

[wellingtonian]

Clearly many of you didn't actually read the whole article.

I did and I have to say, Simon Cowell must be the most misunderstood person in showbiz. He seems very genuine in what he does, and doesn't deserve all this negativity thrown his way.

[DeeW]

I agree - people are obviously not reading the entire article, which shows Simon to be a very caring person, very savvy professionally of course - but still, he's not a horrible person.

[moonflowerjewelry]

oh, you all are going to hate me, but I have always appreciated simon cowell. back in caveman days when I was an undergraduate in art school we had this thing called a "wall crit"
everyone shows their work, and everyone else gets to critique it. it is useful and makes a better artist, but it can be gut wrenching and the faint of heart have to learn to deal with it. this is called real life, and it isn't fair to expect that everyone gets showered with roses and praise just for showing up. at auditions for real performing work, i assure you that critiques there make simon cowell seem like a simpering maiden.

[Bulbul]

Clearly Susan is not an entertainer, she is an artist. Of course Simon made an error by making her a spectacle .to the world !
Susan will be great in a recording studio with a couch directing her. Hopefully they can keep the vultures away....

[Chicago48]

No, she's not an "artist" she's a singer. Simon and company are always looking for an "artist" ala AI...they always state they are looking for the artist. Most of what they choose is a "singer"....and Simon jumps on anybody's wagon that he feels he can use and make money with.

[Bulbul]

Singing is a form of art, and great singers are artists....

[viewfromuphere]

I don't think Cowell made Susan a "spectacle­".......wo­uld this enormous amount of attention be on her if her performance had only been seen in Britian and not all over the planet on YouTube..


I think one of his points is well taken....do they have to do an psych profile of every contestant before they perform? and to follow that thought throught to it's logicall conclusion....where is the bar to be set that would disqualify an individual from the show based on what those tests said?

[Bulbul]

You are correct...touche..

[justsayingandlooking]

Clearly we all love Simon cause he is a smug little prig!And nobody love's Simon more then himself!

Yes it was sad what happened to Susan but the road to fame has been paved for her and she is well
on her way,due to Simon's little show,so who know's maybe a star has been born once again!Gee
Simon,thanks for sharing!!