Simon Cowell fails to look in mirror before calling Sting and “Idiot”

(HMG) – Simon Cowell has gotten nasty (no surprise) again, calling Sting an “idiot” for dismissing The X Factor reality singing contests as “televised karaoke”.

The former Police frontman criticized Cowell last November, claiming the the music mogul was exploiting talentless wannabees, who are then “humiliated” in a bid to boost television ratings on reality shows like American Idol and The X Factor.

Sting said previously, “The X Factor is a preposterous show and you have judges who have no recognizable talent apart from self-promotion, advising them (contestants) what to wear and how to look. It is appalling.”

Previously Simon replied that:

“Talking about these contestants being a bunch of karaoke no-hopers … I thought it was pompous,” he said, before inviting Sting to come on the show as a mentor.

A few days later, Cowell followed up again on The X Factor. “Someone has got a little bit grumpy,” he joked with his co-judges. “We’d like a Sting week.”

But in his interview, Sting made it clear he had no interest in setting foot on the X Factor stage.

“I wouldn’t get on The X Factor because I don’t sound like anyone they’re after,” he said. “I sound like myself. I think they are basically aping pre-existing stereotypes of what singers should do and they’re not being themselves.”

Now in a new interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, who is a judge on Cowell’s America’s Got Talent show, asked Simon about it again and in true form he got nasty:

“First of all, anybody who at the age of 60 calls himself Sting is an idiot.

“I find those kind of people… who come from quite humble beginnings and they’re (now) living in these stately homes, professing to know everything about everything in the world, and what the contestants may or may not feel… They can say that because they’ve got everything they want in their lives, but what they’re really saying is anybody else who needs a shot shouldn’t be allowed to do it.”

I kind of see both sides of this as Sting’s swipe at the show was a bit broad. But on the other hand I think he has a real point about these judges having questionable music industry backgrounds to be throwing around their opinions out like they know what they are talking about and trying to mold the contestants into something they are not. And Cowell himself has admitted to being mortified in hindsight to see how he humiliates contestants. So I think Sting does have a point and is not thumbing his nose at giving amateurs an opportunity.  He just doesn’t like the exploitation that goes on in the process.

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Update:  In happier Simon Cowell interview news,  Jay Leno grilled him about getting married last night. Jay called Simon’s fiancee, makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy, onto the show to sit in the seat with him.

Simon said that he would want a wedding “in the next 10 years.” As for kids? Simon said, “I’m kind of torn because I’m a bit too old to have kids, but then again I think it would be important to have a lot of me’s around in the future.”