In a candid interview, music mogul Simon Cowell has spoken out for the first time about his affair with Lauren Silverman, the wife of his close friend, and the birth of their son, Eric.
The X Factor judge admitted to the Mail on Sunday’s Event magazine, “I’m not proud of the circumstances, I can’t hold my head up about it.”
Cowell and Silverman’s relationship is believed to have started back in 2009 when she was still married to real estate tycoon Andrew Silverman.
However, their affair only became public knowledge in July 2013 when news broke of Lauren’s pregnancy.
Recalling the moment he found out he was going to be a father, the 56-year-old said it was completely unplanned.
He was in a meeting when his assistant called him out, saying his girlfriend needed to speak to him urgently.
“This was not something I planned. But I remember going to the first scan with Lauren,” Cowell shared.
Despite the scandalous start to their relationship, Cowell’s feelings toward his child were instantaneous.
“I called him Tad because he looked like a tadpole. Something just kicked in.
“I felt unbelievably protective of both of them. I just absolutely wanted him. I just hadn’t known that before,” he explained.
Fatherhood has undoubtedly changed the music industry titan. Though he admits he’s “not a conventional dad” and doesn’t handle tasks like changing nappies or preparing feeds, Cowell is devoted to his son.
“I adore my son. We make each other laugh. We play with the dogs.
“I’ve taught him to share, to say please and thank you. Whatever he has he offers it to me,” he gushed.
While Cowell and Silverman, 38, are now a family, with Lauren having finalized her divorce, wedding bells aren’t ringing just yet.
The notoriously private celebrity wouldn’t comment on any marriage plans.
The past couple years have brought about significant changes for Cowell, and not just in his personal life.
His hit show, The X Factor, has seen a decline in ratings and has faced harsh criticism.
However, he remains optimistic about the show’s future, insisting that ITV and advertisers still believe in the program.
He acknowledged some missteps, like allowing the audience to overpower the performers and judges, vowing, “That was one lesson learned, it will never be that bad again.”
Cowell also opened up about the passing of his mother, Julie, this July following a stroke.
The 89-year-old former dancer was an integral part of his life and career. He admitted he struggled to accept the prognosis when doctors gave her only months to live.
“I wouldn’t listen. I kept saying right to the end that there was hope. And I wasn’t prepared for it.
“You know it all happened in my 50s. I have a son and then I lose my mother. It changes you. I’m still going through it,” he confessed.
Despite his estimated £355 million fortune, Cowell has no intention of simply handing it down to his son.
He finds the notion of generational wealth transfer “quite disgusting,” believing his own drive stemmed from having nothing to lose.
Instead, he’s more inclined to support worthy causes.
As for his parenting style, Cowell says he’s already instilling values in young Eric, teaching him to share and use his manners.
“I’m not a conventional man, so I can’t be a conventional dad,” he quipped.
In a rare moment of vulnerability, Simon Cowell has given the public a glimpse into his world, sharing his thoughts on fatherhood, loss, and his hopes for the future.
While he may not be proud of how his relationship with Lauren began, it’s clear that both she and their son Eric have had a profound impact on his life.
