Inside The Storm Gathering Around Simon Cowell’s Return

Simon Cowell once stood at the very top of British entertainment, shaping chart-topping stars and building some of the biggest TV talent shows of a generation. 

However, his latest attempt at a comeback with his Netflix documentary has taken a sharp and painful turn, leaving fans and insiders worried. 

What was meant to be a fresh start has instead brought harsh reviews, old accusations, and renewed questions about how he treated people along the way. 

Now, Cowell is facing a storm unlike anything he has controlled before.

Cowell enjoyed years of unmatched fame, especially during “The X Factor” era when more than ten million viewers tuned in each weekend. 

He created one of the biggest boy bands in the world, One Direction, and helped launch stars like Little Mix, Leona Lewis, Olly Murs, and JLS. 

At parties, the spotlight naturally drifted toward him, and even stars like Coldplay’s Chris Martin faded into the background whenever Cowell entered the room.

However, his new six-part Netflix documentary, “Simon Cowell: The Next Act,” has brought a very different reaction. 

Hours after the show was released, major outlets gave brutal ratings. The Guardian and The Telegraph both delivered one-star reviews, with the latter calling the series “as flat as his hairdo.” 

The Independent added that “Simon Cowell is a man out of time in his sad and bleak show.” 

These reviews poured in despite the show successfully forming a boy band called December 10, who signed with Island Records.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, friends of Simon Cowell worry these comments will hit him hard. 

One former associate said, “He was the kingmaker, he was a genius, but his comeback doesn’t seem to have gone down very well.” 

Another described him as a “control freak” who is used to applause, not criticism. 

According to them, the response may leave him questioning whether the project was worth it.

Cowell’s comeback also reopens old wounds for people who worked with him. Former “X Factor” contestant Katie Waissel publicly criticized him after a recent Rolling Stone interview. 

She accused the show of “systemic pressures, relentless work schedules, emotional manipulation, public shaming structures and unregulated high-stress environments.” 

Her comments appeared in an NME article that was later deleted, leading her to call the removal “disturbing and disgusting.”

Cowell’s team has long argued that he gave young artists life-changing opportunities. 

However, the criticisms make it clear that not everyone remembers their time on the show positively. 

Even winning artists have struggled. Liam Payne, a member of One Direction, tragically died in 2024 after years of drug difficulties. 

Some claim the group’s demanding schedule during their early rise added to his troubles.

In addition, the TV personality’s relationships with coworkers were often complicated. Cheryl Cole was hurt after being fired from the U.S. “X Factor” just weeks into its launch. 

A friend said, “She was distraught. It was humiliating and so embarrassing for her,” especially as she was going through a painful divorce at the time. 

Cole refused to return to the UK show afterward and later sued for lost earnings before settling in 2013. 

She eventually came back in 2014, but the emotional damage had already been done.

Cole wasn’t the only person left unsettled by Simon Cowell’s decisions. 

In Tom Bower’s book “Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell,” Cowell allowed details about a secret affair with judge Dannii Minogue to be published. 

The book shared how he described her as “foxy” and talked about her “sexy clothes,” saying he felt like a “schoolboy” around her.

Several hosts were also affected by the 66-year-old’s unpredictable methods. Kate Thornton and Dermot O’Leary left the show in 2007 and 2015, with Thornton reportedly given almost no notice. 

According to an insider, “Simon kept people dangling right up until days before a show began. Then he would either sign them or not. It drove people mad. It always felt like such a power move.”

Simon Cowell also clashed with journalists. One reporter said his team barred them from “X Factor” studios after they wrote a story he didn’t like. His publicist even pushed for the journalist to be fired.