Simon Cowell 'washes his hands' of Cheryl Cole after X Factor snub

By Lara Gould


Separate lives: Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell (pictured together X Factor UK in 2010) have had no contact since she was sacked from X Factor USA


Her sizzling on-screen chemistry with Simon Cowell was cited as the reason she landed a £2 million contract on X Factor USA.

But two months after being humiliatingly sacked from the series, Cheryl Cole has apparently had no contact with her former mentor, severing all ties with the man once credited as making her a star.

A source close to the former Girls Aloud singer, who is in Los Angeles on an extended sabbatical, says despite 51-year-old Cowell planning to fly out to the city in the next two weeks, the pair have ‘no plans to meet up either now or in the foreseeable future’.

Friends no more? Simon and Cheryl at the 2011 Fox Upfront Presentation shortly before it was announced that Cheryl had been dropped from X Factor USA


The source said: ‘They have both moved on with their lives. She hasn’t spoken to him and they have no plans to see each other in America.’

Miss Cole once described Cowell as ‘one of the most important people in my life’ in an interview with Mail on Sunday columnist Piers Morgan last year.

She went on to say: ‘He’s annoying, but I do love him.’

But the rift which was triggered by her sacking from X Factor USA is said to have widened after the singer publicly rekindled her relationship with her ex-husband, Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole, at her 28th birthday party in London earlier this month.

A source close to Cowell said: ‘Cheryl is the last person on Simon Cowell’s mind at the moment. The party line if anyone in Simon’s group of friends is asked about her is to say, “Cheryl is still a star”.

‘He doesn’t want to talk about Cheryl and they know not to bring her name up.

'He will never openly criticise her but there is no relationship between them now.’

After being sacked in May, a move understood to have been ordered by senior executives at the Fox TV network, it was claimed Miss Cole refused to take calls from Cowell and X Factor representatives – a move that led ITV to withdraw its offer for her to resume her job on the panel of the British series.

Cheryl and Ashley Cole married in 2005, but split four years later after he was accused of cheating with five different women.

Cowell was said to have encouraged Miss Cole to leave the marriage, which ended in divorce last September, claiming it would harm her chances of success in America if she stayed with her husband.

Replaced: Nicole Scherzinger (second from right), who replaced Cheryl on the show, with fellow judges L.A. Reid Paula Abdul and Simon


source:dailymail

The gloves are off! Simon Cowell mocks American Idol in cheeky X Factor USA ad

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Pretty in pink: Cowell's sweater and sincere gaze echo the demeanour of Idol judge Jennifer Lopez in the spoof


Applauding and praising tuneless auditions, cosying up to fellow judges, driving an environmentally-friendly car and wearing a pink jumper - it all adds up to Simon Cowell's worst nightmare.

But there is a seam of reality in the first X Factor USA promo, because the crew are cheekily sending up Cowell's former U.S. show, American Idol.

The action opens in an audition room that looks suspiciously like the hotel room used in the hit show, and the panel of judges are dressed in pastel hues, a favourite palette of Jennifer Lopez.


Emotive: Nicole Scherzinger mirrors Lopez' encouraging hand gestures


An immediate focus on positivity is evident - which was the all pervading force of the last Idol series, even between the judges, thanks to the sardonic British producer's departure.

Simon, clad in cotton candy cashmere, leads the way by lavishing praise upon awful acts and holding hands with Paula Abdul, while all the judges make emotional gesticulations, like the Idol Panel.

But perhaps the most obvious dig is Paula Abdul's opening remark that the young girl who murders Tomorrow from the film Annie has 'spirit.'


Parody: The X Factor crew send up their Idol counterparts


Detail: Even the drinks on the judges' table in Idol was echoed in the skit


This is most definitely Simon Cowell setting out his stall, the promo implicitly promises that the X Factor USA will have the edge over all over other talent shows.

And as the X Factor is on Fox, the same network as Idol, it's a typically audacious piece of bombast from the celebrated producer.


Rude awakening: With his face in his hands, Simon Cowell wakes up in his luxurious bedroom after a nightmare about the X Factor USA


Thank God for that! A look of relief on his face, Simon snaps back into reality


The promo opens with Simon sitting with his fellow X Factor judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A Reid, wearing a pink cable knit jumper.

A small girl then presents herself to them and starts to sing Tomorrow from Annie very badly.

But rather than cut her off after a couple of notes, Simon patiently waits for her to finish, claps and says, 'That's what I've been waiting for.'

Abdul, to Simon's left, praises the plucky child's spirit, and as the camera pans to the dream-breaker, there's a sharp intake of breath.


No more Mr Nasty Guy? Simon Cowell wears pink and applauds contestant in the new preview for X Factor USA


Times a changing: The new cuddly Simon gets a kiss from Paula Abdul in the new promo


New Look: The panel. including Simon, Nicole and L.A Reid appear to have gone soft



Lucky girl: The awful rendition of Annie would usually have earned her a rejection


A New Decade: 'It's not about me, it's about them,' Simon insists


Eat my dust: The back of Simon's Bugatti, with personalised number plate is seen whizzing past


Jet Set: The team mean business as they are seen strutting away from their private jet


Welsh boy done good: Host Steve Jones (far right) joins the team as they head into the studio


Primed and ready: The four judges will be ready to find a new pop star when the show air on September 21


'We wanted to make something which showed what the show ‘could’ have been, my nightmare basically, then transitioning into what we really are and I thought it would be fun to make that.

'I literally really imagined my worst nightmare, and I put myself into that place and it was that.. Me, loving this song, Paula and I holding hands and I’m now turning into Paula everything is just... awful!. I just suspended my disbelief!'

The X Factor has it's two-Night Series premiere Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8/7c and Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8/7c on FOX.




source: dailymail

I'll stand by you: Cheryl Cole faces her demons and flies back to Los Angeles - with moral support from Kimberley Walsh

By Jody Thompson


High flyer: Cheryl Cole was smiling broadly as she arrived in Los Angeles earlier today


She had kept a low profile to lick her wounds since she fled America following her shock sacking from the X Factor USA - but now Cheryl Cole has sensationally flown back to the States with Girls Aloud bandmate Kimberley Walsh.

The girls were seen arriving at Los Angeles LAX airport last night and Cheryl had a massive smile on her face.

The defiant 28-year-old star was looking gorgeous in a Mongolian lamb waistcoat, jeans, black sandals and a blue T-shirt which she'd accessorised with a mushroom coloured handbag and beautiful big tortoiseshell sunglasses.

Girls together: Cheryl jetted into LAX with her Girls Aloud bandmate Cheryl Cole

Firm friends: Cheryl kept a tight grip on Kimberley's hand as they arrived back in the U.S. - where the star had been humiliated just weeks ago


Kimberley, 29, meanwhile was in a multi-coloured print catsuit with a white belt and cream leather jacket, tan sandals and big black sunglasses.

As to the nature of girls' trip and whether it's business or pleasure, Cheryl's spokesperson told Mail Online: 'Cheryl is taking some time out as she said on her website last month.'

However, it's possible she could be househunting.

It was rumoured earlier this week that Cheryl has made a list of demands to ex Ashley Cole, 30, before they get back together.

Beaming: The star looked stunning in casual jeans and a Mongolian lamb waistcoat

Taking the lead: Kimberley took charge and lead her friend to their waiting car


It included a new family home - as well as an LA 'lovenest'.

However, Ashley remained in Britain as he is back in training at his football club Chelsea.

He returned to work with his teammates at the club's training ground in Cobham on Wednesday.

Cheryl was left humiliated when she was sacked from the U.S. version of the X Factor in May after just two weeks as a judge.

She was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, who had been due to be a co-host on the series with Welsh hunk Steve Jones.

Producers were concerned her Geordie accent would be too difficult for an American audience to understand.

The devastated star immediately fled the States and hid out for weeks as she recovered.

Ill-fated: Cheryl, far right, with the original X Factor USA line-up of (L-r) Steve Jones, Nicole Scherzinger, LA Reid, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell in May


She was so furious with show boss Simon Cowell that she even turned down the chance to return to the UK version.

Since her sacking, she disappeared from public view, and only emerged again last week with a brand new lighter bobbed hairstyle.

And myriad rumours have swirled this week surrounding her apparently rekindled romance with ex Ashley after they made a public display of affection at her 28th birthday in London last Friday.

Some reports say they're back together on Cheryl's condition that her mother Joan Callaghan is allowed to move back in with them, whereas other say he's banned her as he blamed the marriage breakdown on her constant presence.

New look: Cheryl at her 28th birthday party at London's Sanderson Hotel last week where she cosied up with ex Ashley Cole


Cheryl and Ashley are rumoured to be in the process of setting up home again together again in the £6million mansion they once shared in Hurtmore, Surrey.

Chelsea player Cole, 30, was awarded the house after their divorce was finalised in October, while his former wife moved into a rented home in Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire.

It's said that the Promise This star has also asked the England star to ditch his friends, who she deems as a bad influence, and has ordered that he check in with her twice a day on his mobile so she can keep track of his whereabouts.

Cheryl, who divorced cheating Ashley last September, is also said to want a top of the range recording studio, a secret exotic wedding, a luxury honeymoon, a ring 'that can be seen from outer space'.

Back on? The pair are said to have reunited despite Ashley allegedly cheating on Cheryl numerous times during their marriage


source:dailymail