SIMON Cowell has shaded his former American Idol co-star Ryan Seacrest in a new interview with The New York Times.
The America’s Got Talent judge and media mogul, 66, had an unexpected reaction when asked about his onetime colleague, 50, during a candid talk on The Daily podcast with journalist Lulu Garcia Navarro.
When the reporter admitted she’s “mystified” by Ryan‘s success and asked Simon to explain it, he laughed.
“I can’t really answer that one if I’m being honest with you. He does work hard,” he responded.
“A lot of people work hard,” Lulu said.
“I don’t know, actually. He was very, very ambitious. And look, I don’t follow his career if I’m being honest with you,” Simon said, despite Ryan’s success on American Idol, Wheel of Fortune, Live with Kelly and Ryan and radio shows.
“So I don’t know what he’s done or doing. We rarely talk now.
“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.”
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Simon worked alongside Ryan from American Idol’s first season in 2002 until his departure in 2010.
They butt heads on camera, and one scene particularly shocked viewers when it aired on Season 6 in 2007.
When a contestant complained about having to wear high heels and dresses on the show, Ryan asked Simon for any advice he could offer.
“You should know, Ryan,” Simon responded.
“Stay out of my closet,” Ryan warned Simon.
“Well, come out,” Simon quipped, seemingly joking about Ryan’s sexuality. (Ryan has always dated women, and denied gay rumors in his early days of fame.)
According to a report at the time, the jab was scripted and planned ahead of time.
Ryan denied a long-standing feud with Simon in 2017, insisting he “misses” working with him.