‘American Idol’ Simon Cowell Shades Ryan Seacrest Big Time
Simon Cowell has a new docuseries and isn’t holding anything back. He opened up about his relationship with American Idol host Ryan Seacrest. The former judge threw major shade at his former co-worker. Keep reading to find out what he said and where they stand now.
American Idol Judge Searches For Next Big Thing With Docuseries
Simon Cowell has moved far beyond American Idol. He left the show in 2010 to launch a U.S. version of The X Factor. It wasn’t as successful as the UK version and ended after three seasons. The music mogul created NBC’s America’s Got Talent. He joined as a judge in 2016.

However, AGT seeks talent across multiple genres, not just music. After playing a major role in creating One Direction, Simon Cowell is on a quest to launch the next global boy band. And he teamed up with Netflix to do it.
Simon Cowell: The Next Act is a docuseries with a goal of doing just that. 16 aspiring stars attend boot camp at Simon Cowell’s Miami, Florida, home in the six-part series. It also gives fans a glimpse inside the American Idol alum’s private life.
Simon Cowell Shades Ryan Seacrest Big Time
Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, and Randy Jackson were the original judges of American Idol together for seven seasons. Ryan Seacrest was the show’s host and continued that role when the show moved to ABC. The show returns with a new season in January with judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan.
Simon Cowell was a guest on the New York Times’ Daily podcast to promote his upcoming Netflix show, which premieres on December 10. Interviewer journalist Lulu Garcia Navarro said that she didn’t understand Ryan Seacrest’s massive success.

He was named host of Wheel of Fortune after Pat Sajak retired and has a ton of other side gigs, including American Idol. Simon Cowell was initially reluctant to say anything negative about his former co-worker. “I can’t really answer that one if I’m being honest with you. He does work hard,” he responded.
However, he quickly opened the floodgates with shade toward Ryan Seacrest. “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,” Simon Cowell said.
Where They Stand Now
Rumors of a feud between Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell go back to their days on American Idol. The host and judge used to banter all the time. In one interaction, Simon joked that Ryan wore high heels after a contestant complained about having to wear them.
@codytunesin They just can’t stop roasting each other! 😅 #americanidol #simoncowell #ryanseacrest #roastingchallenge
The American Idol host took the joke in stride, but the rumors persisted. Simon Cowell’s new interview does little to dispel them. I don’t follow his career if I’m being honest with you,” he said on the podcast.
“So I don’t know what he’s done or doing. We rarely talk now,” he added. Ryan Seacrest has yet to respond to Simon Cowell’s shade, but he denied a feud during an interview several years ago.
Tell us in the comments whether you think Simon Cowell was being shady toward Ryan Seacrest or if it’s just his sense of humor.
- Simon Cowell Reveals Shocking Mental Health Disorder - December 14, 2025
- ‘The Voice’ Michael Bublé Makes Controversial Confession, Causes Division - December 14, 2025
- Jelly Roll Says He Was ‘Dying’ Before Massive Weight Loss - December 14, 2025
