It's simple Simon, you lost our trust

X FACTOR BOSS: Simon Cowell

By Carole Malone, 15/11/2009

The whole nation heard it - the clunk of Simon Cowell's integrity as it hit the ground and splintered into a million pieces.

It was an historic moment because it's not often on live TV you see someone take their hard-earned reputation and flush it down the toilet.

But that's what he did - and it was ugly to watch.

Simon Cowell might not be a likeable man. He can be arrogant, vain, often childish, but still he had the nation's respect because we believed he possessed the ability to be brave, to cut through the crap, to say it like it is - even though what he said might shatter some poor kid's dreams.

Simon always told the truth and - however cruel it was - we knew in our hearts he was right.

Ratings

It was The Truth Factor that gave Simon Cowell his credibility - not The X Factor.

And while all the other judges were trotting out banalities like "you made that song your own" and "you owned that stage", Simon gave it to them straight.

Until last week. When he blew it - not just his credibility as a judge but his ability to be trusted.

By dumping Lucie Jones, one of the most talented singers in the competition, in favour of Jedward, those battery-operated loons from Dublin who couldn't hold a tune if their lives depended on it, we saw that Cowell isn't actually interested in music, or talent or discovering young stars.

For him, the bottom line is ratings and making money. And, you might say, we all suspected that. But did we? Didn't we think that a man who has more millions than he can ever spend might actually care more about the music, about taking kids whose talent might never have otherwise been discovered and letting the world in on it?

What he did last week insulted the public's intelligence and it compromised the whole ethos of the show. Given the previous week's stories, how could he pretend he didn't know who the public would have given more votes to? And why did he opt out of his responsibility as a judge by letting those talentless eejits stay?

For weeks he'd been moaning about Jedward's lack of talent, their pointlessness, how he'd boycott Britain if they won. But when he was handed the opportunity to blow out these little pointy heads - but he didn't. He kept them in to keep the ratings.

Or was it because he knows he can make money out of them? Or was it because he knew they'd been no competition for HIS acts in the final weeks? Whatever his reasons, he shattered any hopes of a big career for a young girl who clearly deserves it. He also threw his own reputation for truth down the toilet.

And Mr Cowell needs to be careful. The viewers aren't stupid. They know he makes great TV. They enjoy the deadlocks and the tension but they won't be manipulated or treated like idiots.

Hence the 3,000 complaints after last week's show from people who saw what he did and didn't just hate it - they felt let down by it.

And by him. And I don't care what he now says to justify it - e.g. that Lucie wasn't going to win anyway, so what the hell.

Dreams

The thing about reality TV is that it has to be REAL. Anything else is cheating viewers.

And there shouldn't be hidden agendas because they hurt people. They can even destroy them and - unlike the hard-nosed judges - the young people who get hurt don't have the ammo or the experience to fight back.

Crushing a young kid's hopes and dreams because he/she has no talent is one thing. They sign up for that.

Talented kids being destroyed so that Simon Cowell can make even more money and ITV can get even higher ratings is quite another.

NB: If Cowell has even a shred of decency what he should do now is release Lucie from her contract. She's been offered some amazing opportunities which she can't accept because she's contracted to The X Factor till March 2010 - by which time people will be saying Lucie Who?

If Cowell doesn't rate her talent the kindest thing would be to let her go work with people who do.

Click here to read Carole's previous News of the World columns

Your comments

This article has 20 comments

I totally agree with you Carol, Simon Cowell's actions the night he kept thos twerps in has disgusted me and I havent watched it since. I have lost respect for Simon because he let us all down knowing full well after the sing off Lucie, a lovely singer with a fabulous voice would go and he had the chance to get rid of them there is one word I would describe Jedward and that is ABYSSMAL in theie singing and lack of co ordination.

By Patsy.. Posted November 29 2009 at 10:08 AM.

It is a conflict of interest to have someone with such high stakes in the ratings be a judge. People like to watch train wrecks, and that's how they vote. He's not acting like a real judge. It's not fair to the people with talent. A lot of people thought he was a jerk, but until now I don't think people questioned his integrity.

I don't know why they even bother to have the judges "vote". It's his rule...why have that in there if he's always going to "trust the public"?

By Kathy.. Posted November 19 2009 at 3:57 AM.

I agree with Carole, Simon did it for his own pocket, but one point I would like to make it is you the british public that are voting to keep the twins every week, so if you don't want them in the competition stop moaning and vote for the other contestants. Im from Ireland and if I could vote I would spend my night voting for all the other acts just to get rid of those two muppets.

By Rachel.. Posted November 18 2009 at 3:27 PM.

Why does Simon Cowell's "integrity" mean so much to you Carole? Don't you have a better person to base your moral compass on? I don't watch this stupid show because 1) I cannot stand the sob stories eg. "My cat has cancer." 2) The judges preen and strut too much for my liking. 3) Simon Cowell's out-of-this-world smug look. 4) It dumbs down Great Britain with the C-list "talents." 5) None of the former winners is worth anything. 6) The votes might be rigged and it cost too much money for the public. Don't watch it people. I have my lovely Saturday and Sunday evenings free of such trashy programmes.

By Helen Li.. Posted November 16 2009 at 4:31 PM.

I think everyone's obessing too much about this issue. At the end of the day when all's said & done once the judges votes had gone to deadlock it was the PUBLIC who voted Lucie off the show as she received the least number of votes. I assume the majority of people with such precise opinions, condemning those who vote etc are glued to their screens every weekend which is just what the shows' producers want. Love it or hate it everyone's talking about X Factor!

By Janet.. Posted November 16 2009 at 6:14 AM.

He humiliated a fantastic singer last week but the tight wad still controls her career with the contract so Carole is right, release her and let her have the career she rightly deserves. The whole show now is a farce and I believe the voting is now fixed. Who are all these people who are supposed to be voting for the twins? I don't know anyone, do you?

By Ellie.. Posted November 15 2009 at 11:43 PM.

You've missed the point, Carole. X Factor was never about discovering and nurturing talent. It's about persuading mug punters to pick up their phones, vote and line Cowell's pockets.
That's why he wants the twins to stay in the competition for as long as possible.

By Ian.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:05 PM.

I agree with you completely Carole. It has changed our opinion of Simon and of the x factor! We haven't watched this weekend and won't be watching again, it just doesn't feel right anymore! I would have felt the same had it been anyone up against Jedward except maybe Lloyd. I think Simon saw it coming too, hence his comments last week that actually they were quite good, he mustn't have thought it would be a huge thing to save them after that. Will be glad when it's all over!!!

By Elaine.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:02 PM.

Well put Carole.
I was disgusted with the smug way delivered his blow to Lucie last week. The "sing off" where the constesants are supposed to be judged on thier performance on the night(yeh right) under pressure
was dealt with by Lucie with such professional ease that we all knew the twins were surley doomed.......... In theroy anyway......

Was'nt it Simon that constantly reminded us "it's a singing compettion" ?

I had Lucie to win right from her first audition.She is good, just too good.Thats why people were so relaxed with her voting, we all beleived she would walk it so why bother all of us voting.
Lucie sings like an angel, is beautiful and would be a good much needed role model for todays teenage girls..I would love my 9 year daughter to want to be Lucie Lones when she grows up rather than some of these tarty dressing,slapper acting "celebs" young girls are constantly being brainwashed to aspire to ..

I wish Lucie good luck with her carreer and we all know deep down its going to be a long one ,unlike the short shelf life of the twins.......

By Billy.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:15 PM.

It's not often I agree with Carole but on this subject I do. I usually respect Simon generally for his honest views and music biz knowledge but last week he did completely fail the whole of the UK by not being honest and giving it over to the audience. So if the audience's votes count instead of Simon, does that mean we are each entitled to a share of his wage? If he's not doing a proper job and judging himself as he should then I think his salary should be cut... Or let's just get rid of all of the judges altogether and have it primarily a viewer's choice show. Give their wages to charity instead.

By Shari Black Velvet.. Posted November 15 2009 at 7:57 PM.

Totally agree with carol you could see him on the xtra factor he felt uneasy. Also agree with the other comments Danni minogue is the only one who gives honest comments. Cherly suck up to simon she just has a big mouth and nothing to back it up. She scary to say anything bad about simon acts. Last nite queen was too songs was too big for alot of them. Not really in to any of them but Stacy was the only one that pull it off.

By jenni.. Posted November 15 2009 at 8:02 PM.

Simon and the producers started these dirty trick last season (remember Laura White) and I believe these dirty tricks are the reason the X Factor didn't win the National Television Awards last year. Simon's face was a picture when Strictly was announced the winner. I hope the same thing happens again.

By Glenn.. Posted November 15 2009 at 4:42 PM.

I have spent several years admiring Simon Cowell, but that all changed on Saturday. Every ounce of respect I had for this man has (sadly) disappearded.

The viewing figures have risen this season and the producers and (dip stick) Simon probably (mistakenly in my opinion) put that down to the hyped up twins. But common sense really needs to come into play here. It isn't these twins who have made the ratings sore, its more than likely down to the X Factor being shown over two consecutive night. I've never enjoyed any of their so called performances and I was disgusted when the they got through to the live shows when there were and are so many deserving and talented young people out there.

If people think voting for the twins will be a way of getting back at him you are wrong. The best thing you can do to teach him and the producers a big lesson is not vote at all. It will be hitting them where it hurts as they wont have made as much money from the votes as the did the week before.

Joe to win as he is truly the best singer. Simon cowell should be ashamed of himself.

By Glenn Graham.. Posted November 15 2009 at 4:23 PM.

Simple, Simon is a MORON!

By ninna.. Posted November 15 2009 at 3:41 PM.

Watch the show more. Dannii Minogue makes excellent judgement on the acts. Only truthful one left.

By Cyd.. Posted November 15 2009 at 3:18 PM.

Instead of coming out with an honest apology to the viewers Simon Cowell instead attacked Sting for his opinion of X-Factor, trying to gain sympathy with the audience than just simply apologising.

His apology to Lucie was a lie. Just watch the body language, watch the eye movements and you will see he averted his look directly into the camera. His eyes were shifting throughout the 'apology' showing a complete lack of sincerity. As an ex-teacher you would always know when a child was lying by looking them straight in the eyes and watching their eye movement shift.

Thank you for an excellent feature clearly and precisely analysing Cowell's actions and how the public has reacted to his dishonesty.You are absloutely right to insist he releases Lucie from her X-Factor contract. Please start a campaign on Lucie's behalf if he doesn't.

By Sid Shaw.. Posted November 15 2009 at 3:27 PM.

Absolutely right as always, Carol. I do disagree with you on thing though - most of the people watching ARE idiots. They'd have to be - for voting for Jedward to upset Simon, when in fact Simon's company makes money from ALL the votes - so whoever you vote for, SIMON WINS!!

THE X FACTOR has done more to dumb Britain down than ten years of BIG BROTHER and 14 years of the Labour government EVER could. Well done Simon - you've actually created the most vapid, pantomime, pointless, devious, obviously rigged piece of trash ever screened. And what's worse, 14 million people watch it every week. What does that say about us as a nation??

By Kevin (fed up of X FACTOR).. Posted November 15 2009 at 3:01 PM.

my sentiments exactly Carole. I used to like him a lot (quite fancied him too) - now when he had the power to get rid of those two plonkers he didn't - what was all that about then? I sincerely hope he loses one of his acts this week, another next week and the last one the week after - just see how he likes it!!! If it is one of his that's in the bottom 2 then I don't suppose for a second he will go to deadlock. What on earth will wipe that ever so smug look off his face - he thinks with some sort of wishy washy apology and blaming it all on us the voters he can wriggle out of it all. As you say he has enough money never to worry about making any more ever again so why didn't he stand by his principles then. I do so hope something wipes that stupid smile I once found so endearing off his silly face!!

By sue .. Posted November 15 2009 at 2:22 PM.

I'm just amazed that it's taken so long for everyone to see this - I've been saying it all along. His smug arrogance makes me sick to my stomach and his comments aren't always honesty, they're often mind games to try and undermine the other contestants, while at the same time not allowing the other judges to comment on his acts. Saying that, I'll still be watching - Joe to win!!!!!

By Christine.. Posted November 15 2009 at 9:54 AM.

jedward to win.

By alistair.. Posted November 15 2009 at 7:05 AM.

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