After finally releasing a statement confirming Cheryl Cole‘s axing from everything X Factor, head honcho Simon Cowell has broken his silence on what exactly transpired.
A lengthy, yet insightful read. Check it out below…
Via The Mirror:
Simon Cowell last night broke his silence to explain why he killed off Cheryl Cole’s American dream.
The 51-year-old claimed he thought she would be happy to move back to the UK version of The X Factor but admitted he bottled out of telling her.
Instead, he sent X Factor’s executive producer Richard Holloway to deliver the bad news.
Cowell said: “The hardest thing to accept is that everyone has painted me as a monster because I embarassed her, but the truth was I was protecting her. I just want people to be in the best place at the right time.”
Earlier, bosses confirmed that after failing to respond to their offer to come back, she had been officially replaced on the US panel by ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger – who arrived for an interview in London for the Graham Norton Show.
Cheryl filmed just four episodes of the US version of X Factor last month.
Tensions started after the first audition in Los Angeles on May 8 when Cowell told Cheryl to contribute more.
After the Chicago auditions on May 19, Cowell conceded Cheryl had to go.
She was sacked on May 25 before the show even hit TV screens – but show bosses did an unexpected U-turn when they offered Cheryl her job back on Saturday and gave her 24 hours to decide.
Cowell insisted it was a geniuine offer but he admits it caused rows.
He added: “When she turned down the UK show, we got back in touch and said, well she is still under contract with the US show so we invited her back. Her position was still there.
“We had some heated conversations with her US manager Will.i.am and he inferred this wasn’t a genuine offer. They thought that if she didn’t turn up on Wednesday then we wouldn’t pay her.
“We made it clear that she was always going to be paid in full. We got to the point on Saturday when we genuinely thought she was going to accept the offer but again neither she nor they returned any calls. So we’ve announced Nicole.”
Cowell explained he and TV bosses had previously decided Cheryl was “uncomfortable” on the US show and felt offering her the chance to return to the UK X Factor would be the best option.
He confirmed the deal would have been worth €2.8million if she agreed to it, but talks broke down when news of her problems in America began to leak out.
He said: “Knowing Cheryl like I know her, we noticed she was quieter than normal, looked a bit uncomfortable but I put some of this down to nerves. The overall feeling was that she was slightly out her comfort zone in America, compared to what she was in the UK.
“If she had accepted my original offer, she would have made a sensational return and would have understood she was more comfortable in the UK than the US.”
He went on: “I apologise that all this has become public and I understand the stress she is under, and I hate that. But we have all been under a lot of stress.
“When things like this happen I look at the contestant, they must think this is crazy. All the attention is on us. I am sorry this has caused so much anguish and embarrassment, but I stand by what I believe was the right intention. And I would say that to her face right now.”
Cowell insisted he hoped to still be friends with Cheryl, despite their spectacular fall out and war of words via their friends, which has been played out in the media for two weeks.
He said: “I had a text from her last Wednesday. She said she felt let down but at the time she undestood that it was a professional decision. I replied saying this was never personal or saying you were terrible. It wasn’t that she was terrible – she was good – I just thought she’d be happier in the UK.
“After the year she’d had with Ashley and the whole malaria thing, you either shut it down and go for it or you have to be with your friends and family to deal with it.
“We are close friends. I still hope we are but sometimes when you’re that close, when you’re making these decisions with someone’s life you have to be certain. I stand by what I said to her. I hope we’re still close friends. I’m sure if she was here now there would be a frank discussion, but will I work with her again? Definitely. She’s a star.”
The end of the road for Cheryl on the US X Factor was confirmed in a joint statement by TV bosses yesterday.
It said: “Fox, Fremantle Media North America and Syco TV today confirm Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Cheryl Cole on the judging panel of The X Factor.” As the new UK X Factor judges, Tulisa from N-Dubz, Kelly Rowland and Gary Barlow joined Louis Walsh again yesterday for auditions at the SECC in Glasgow, Cowell also shed more light on the failed plan to bring Cheryl back to the British show.
Explaining how the decisions were made between himself and Fox, he said: “The intention was to do it quietly and simply say to her that you have an option to rejoin the UK show.
“We were saying move to another show for even more money. There was offer of around €2.8million on the table including bonuses.
“So how is that sacking someone? If that’s being horrible to someone then I would be quite happy with someone doing that to me.
“She was certainly interested as we exchanged a few texts and she asked if she could have my dressing room at the studio and I said ‘of course’.
“Her management even asked for a legal waiver to her contract with the US show allowing her to open discussions with ITV.
“So we genuinely thought it was going to happen. But the big condition was that it was to be kept under wraps and she would make a big entrance last week at the Birmingham auditions and everyone would have loved it.
“But when the story got out, it changed everything. There was no more com-munication and we had set a deadline of Sunday, giving her six days to make a decison.
“That passed and we still had not heard anything. So we announced our UK judges.”
Simon, will.i.am, Fox, ITV? Why are all these strings being pulled for a non-factor? Yours truly is by no means a performer, yet there are acts with more talent in their toes sitting dormant on Simon and will’s own labels. Despite this they stay adamant on pushing force-feeding Cheryl. Like really.
We’ve said it many a time, no matter how great you serve up doo-doo, it’s still doo-doo. Alas, it seems all involved woke up and smelled the BS.
All this noise just for Cheryl Cole?
She seems lovely but she ain’t no Madonna.
Let’s stick to the program, folks: The show.
WHO CARES
ncncncncncn
Cherly Cole ain’t s*** , karma is a B**** remember Gamu, yeah I said it, and lets not forget about how she was throwing shade at Nicole back in the day, well Nicole just took you place
LOL
Why is Simon still yapping ! He’s like a friggin woman, put a sock in it
TGJ preach it Simon needs to put more effort into Leona and Alexandra and building there careers instead of talentless Cheryl.will i am is just a lost mandingo c*** why he is even bigging up that racist Cheryl is just a joke.
The whole X factor thing is getting annoying…Today Simon says this and tomorrow he says another…Instead of helping the already found stars such as Alexander and co to make it big, you are spending time on one person-Cole…
I don’t udnertsand why for her is so important xfactor , she should be a (talentless)SINGER ,and shold do record and performance , maybe she know that without that show nobody would be interest in her music…
For the 3rd time …. Zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Nobody cares Here about this Cheryl puppet. Chile I’m so over these factor stories they drain me more than the rihanna macdonald ones
Who cares about Cheryl fukken Cole??? She’s a flop and needs to flop on back to England!
I love how he spinned it.
I’ve seen interviews of her , i’ve seen her judging UK X-Factor contestants , i’ve seen her music videos and performances , the only positive thing i can say about her is : She’s cute . Other than that ………………………. It would be one thing , if she was this smart , witty , genuine , endearing etc… woman , but she’s not , she has no personality , she’s BORING . Goodbye !
@Sam –
I must’ve missed something; essentially what Simon said was/is “a deal was renegotiated, but the other side didn’t get back to him in timely fashion” (or something of the sort)? So Sheryl Cole is no longer “Mrs. Ashley Cole”, with career-in-neutral, and she THEN left money on the table..?! I find this kinda hard to believe!
(I gotta reread this.) This all doesn’t make any sense. No matter whose ‘side’ you take, I think it’s really convenient for Simon to just “tie it up nicely in ribbons and fancy bows,” and then place this at will-i-am’s feet…
But Sam, they were those rumors ’bout Simon and Cheryl (I thought Simon was gay..).
Long-story short – For Simon, having to NOW give us this lengthy explanation, shows us that there IS, in fact, some blowback, wouldn’t you say, Sam?
Sorry to say, I won’t be watching X-Factor. L.A. Reid is involved, isn’t he Sam? L.A. Reid who played a hand in the ATTEMPTED assassination (career) of Chris Brown. Nope, can’t/won’t do it..!! And I’ll be advising my fellow ‘beloved Team Breezy family’ to do the same!
X,Y,”and Z” — OUT…!!
Simon didn’t say anything new. Sorry.
Who is that girl anyway ???? I thought he was talking about the show not this british whatever her name is
XYZ get a life… FYI the owrld doesnt revolve around Chris Brown… your world apparently does… poor sad thing
She asked if she could have his dressing room? Oh. My. God. Well, if that doesn’t sum her up I dont know what does.
Let this be an end to it. Please.
Sam, is so right, all these stops and tricks pulled out of Simons hat for… her? The worlds gone to s***. Should never have been hired in the 1st place. This is what U get Simon for having your nose up Coles you know what. And Cheryl, this is what happens when your size 5 feet become too big for your designer boots.
chery is a talentless w**** that cant have any success w/o x factor!
and she is sure she cant make it big on her own anymore cuz there’s no xfactor for her, so she’s reuniting with girls aloud #FAIL
Cheryl just got owned by nicole. FACE IT.
The show looks like it’s gonna be WACK. I really, really hope it flops hard.
Whatever… Cheryl lost her chance, she didn’t play her cards right, now she lost out. Nicole will be good, I wish Cheryl well though, Ameican X Factor will be good I think!
@ole skool re: June 7, 2011 at 12:13 pm —
“FYI the owrld doesnt revolve around Chris Brown” <– ???
You scared, ain't ya? bwahahahahaha…
I mean, with this growing "Cheryl Cole controversy" to have yet ANOTHER battle to fight on ANOTHER front (or on ANY front, for that matter) just may prove an 'insurmountable disaster,' 'eh 'ole skool'..?? I smell your fear (blood in the waters it is..)
X,Y,"and Z" — OUT..!!
who cares about will.i.am
dudes a goof. who’s cheryl anyways?
Why is Cheryl and the c*** Willie I Am mad, if you don’t contribute on your job and your boss tells you to speak up more and you don’t you going to get fired. So why is she getting all this special treatment it’s not like she can make somebody else a star.
SPAM
Simon cowell always does too much. Between this stupid back and firth and his hiring Paula abdoul ( why?) or choosing Nicole, I question his decisions. He picking people he has worked with before whether they are a good fit or not. I guess they make him feel comfortable because they have some fantastic chemistry….whatever, we will see.
GAAMU LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
I have died you did not just bring up Gamu
damme I forgot all about that mess.
Cheryl ain’t s*** Nicole better get her PROMO Loool
Im over cheryl now… lets just get the show on air and forget about cheryl cole
All this story, annoying.. Simon try to tell she wasn’t good or she was unhappy.. Not true.. For months ago, Simon try to have Cheryl on this show, but some of the producers, especially one: Rupert, don’t like her.. Simon win against him, but they check all the little bad things to arrived to axe Cheryl, they tell a lot of stories and rumor. Anyways, people believe this in Usa because they don’t know her. But after all, she been a victim and they played in her back. I think she did the right things by accepting the money and say bye.. really will you want to work with producers who expected you to go? This is why she don’t call back when they asked her to return.. She wants to make it in the US, but she dont want to return in this kinda atmosphere.. I understand her. Also, in the Uk X Factor, she let the place to Kelly Rowland and Tulisa, because she have big heart and she send them flowers.. If she wants to return on the Us or Uk show, she have the possibilities to do it if she wants! but she choose to pass on other things.. way better, and way bigger.! I don’t like this article because it looks like she have the blame on her, but it is false, she do a lot for this show.. This is what America will missing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoXAtl6G9vM&feature=player_embedded She is a great judge, and no matter what they said by telling the press she was unhappy or she have an accent, this is not true!
damn all this hoo-ha!??
ITS THE X FACTOR – which hilariously cheryl cole doesnt have!
SHE WAS LAME ANYWAYS
who gives a s***. she won’t be missed.
they need to stop tryna force her on ppl.. she cannot sing.. nor dance.. shes basic.. shes a nobody…. whos demanding her tho??? NOBODY so sit down will.i.am S***!! your stanning for her like shes Beyonce
I mean I had issues with her too but I won’t deny that she can put in a performance when she needs too. She’s a better performer than Nicole solo.
i wish there was better communication between the parties. Cheryl means well always idk were the hate is coming from. Nicole has always rubbed me the wrong way since PCD… why agree to join that type of band and not explain why ur the only one singing. i’ve always rooted for them both even though Nic has made me uneasy with her always choosing to keep quiet. *hint* why she has a faltering fan base. Cheryl is not the greatest singer, so i understand why ppl knock her a bit, but she always delivers in a performance… just makes me wonder…
@ΛALEXISR-BAHAMAS
WTF? R U SERIOUS? Cheryl is a better performer than NICOLE?
PLEAZZZZZE, how can u say that?
when has cheryl danced her ass off like nic on stage? and everyone knows she always mimes!
i need to get on her program
she sellin that ass like its the last piece and people aint had nan for weeks