What to Know
For a long time, host Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell were the two mainstays of American Idol, but that all changed in 2010, when Simon left the gig to bring The X-Factor to America instead.
But despite how long the two worked together, there have always been rumors that they don’t exactly get along, and now, Simon is adding new fuel to that fire with his latest comments about Ryan. It definitely sounds like there might still be some drama between these two…
Simon’s comments came during a new podcast interview.
While appearing on this week’s edition of the New York Times‘ “The Interview” podcast, Simon was asked what makes Ryan so popular, to which he responded, “I don’t know, really.”
“He was very, very ambitious. And look, I don’t follow his career if I’m being honest with you,” he said. “So I don’t know what he’s done or doing. We rarely talk now.”
Simon went on to say that while Ryan “does work hard,” that drive seems to be stemming from his dream of being famous.
“I always knew with Ryan, he was very steely about his career, wanting to be famous. I mean this massive, massive desire about being very famous,” he added.
There have been plenty of rumors that Simon and Ryan don’t get along.
This interview isn’t the first sign that Ryan and Simon might not have been BFFs behind the scenes at American Idol. After Simon left the show in 2010, Ryan told Entertainment Weekly that the former judge wasn’t exactly missed.
Claiming that Simon was “just so jealous of me,” Ryan said (via the New York Post) “From day one, he was envious of my career at such a young age.”
However, while the show was still filming, a source told Today that any awkwardness between them on camera was scripted.
“Simon and Ryan are real good friends off-camera,” the insider said. “When the show is on the road for auditions, the two go for drinks and dinner … There’s no real drama. It’s all for the cameras!”
Still, neither of them seem willing to confirm their beef.
Simon’s rep told Page Six that he and Ryan have never feuded, while Ryan’s rep wasn’t available to comment on the situation.
If there is a bit of drama there, it doesn’t seem like either party is willing to confirm it outright… so let the speculation begin. Ryan, do you have a rebuttal?
