- - Simon Cowell Just Revealed the Truth About His Relationship With Former 'American Idol' Costar Ryan Seacrest

Jane LaCroixDecember 2, 2025 at 3:28 AM

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Photo by Dominic Lipinski/Getty Images

Simon Cowell isn’t exactly keeping tabs on Ryan Seacrest—and he’s not afraid to say it.

The former American Idol judge raised eyebrows over the weekend after admitting he doesn’t really follow his longtime co-star’s career anymore during an appearance on The Interview, a podcast from The New York Times.During the episode, which was shared Saturday, November 29, Cowell was asked why he thought Seacrest has remained so widely liked in Hollywood. “I don’t know, actually,” he said, bluntly. “He was very, very ambitious. And look, I don’t follow his career if I’m being honest with you.” Cowell, 66, added that he’s not sure “what he’s done or doing,” noting that the two “rarely talk now.” Still, he acknowledged one thing about the 50-year-old host: “He does work hard.”

Cowell and Seacrest worked side by side during American Idol’s blockbuster early years—with Seacrest hosting and Cowell serving as the show’s hardest-to-please judge from its 2002 debut through Season 9. Their on-screen dynamic often sparked headlines, particularly during their famous back-and-forths.

Cowell also admitted in the episode that his harsh critiques sometimes crossed the line.The former judge said he “probably” went “too far” during his early years on the judging panel, where he became notorious for his no-filter takedowns. “I wasn’t trying to be a dick on purpose. All I wanted with these shows was to find successful artists to sign to the label,” he explained, noting that his bluntness came from real-life audition rooms where honesty was key. Cowell added that his style has softened over the years, acknowledging he has “changed over time” in how he gives feedback.

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As for what he’s up to now, Cowell is steering his career back toward the world that made him a household name: building pop superstars. Cowell—who helped launch groups like One Direction, Fifth Harmony and Il Divo—is set to headline a new Netflix docuseries titled Simon Cowell: The Next Act. The project follows him as he attempts to assemble the next global boy-band phenomenon and is set to premiere on December 10th.

This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”