Home : American Idol : Simon Says "I Wasn't Listening. I'm Horrified!"

Simon Says "I Wasn't Listening. I'm Horrified!"

Posted Apr 18th 2007 1:40PM by TMZ Staff

Simon CowellTMZ spoke with Simon Cowell this morning about last night's incident on "A.I.," in which Cowell sarcastically rolled his eyes after contestant Chris Richardson offered condolences to the families of the victims at Virginia Tech.

Cowell told TMZ, "I couldn't hear what Chris had said. I was talking to Paula. My reaction (rolling my eyes) was to what he had said previously, that singing nasally is a form of singing."

It's true, when the judges are off camera they frequently jab at each other as the singers do their thing.

Simon told TMZ he was shocked when he saw what went down: "When I watched the show back, I was horrified."



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91. Simon feels bad. He was probably even thinking the same thing. What a tragedy.

Posted at 2:57PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Simon Feels Bad

92. I rolled my eyes, too when I heard Chris' mention VT after the negative reviews he got from the judges. I felt that it was to get sympathy votes for him. Sanjaya will win this singing(?) competition.

Posted at 2:56PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Blind Squirrel

93. Simon was obviously rolling his eyes to the way Chris defended himself on his nasaly vocals. I don't think Simon woud be that sarcastic in the wake of a tragedy. Although I'm really saddened by the VA Texh shootings, I think that Chris's show of support was a way of trying to get people to forget about the terrible song he just sang and vote for him because he's a good guy. I'm sure he is but, AI already expressed their condolence on the behalf of the whole show before it began. But, people just LOVE AI scandal!

Posted at 3:01PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Stephanie

94. I do think Simon should offer an apology to America for his ill timed "eye rolling". It is obvious that most people would in fact think that he rolled his eyes @ Chris when he offered his sympathy for Virginia Tech, either that or Simon has a very slow reaction time!
It is one thing to be a critic and another to be plain old ignorant.

Posted at 4:03PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Starr

95. Simon is the best judge up there, he always tells it like it is...You would have to be a complete ass to think he has no feelings about the shootings, that is just so crazy, leave it to some of the Haters to even think that, they are just trying to get a rise out of eveyone, Well it looks like it worked..To all you Haters...blog my middle finger...

Posted at 2:59PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Ho-boy

96. I've actually been there watching the show live, and it is impossible to hear when the audience is all reacting at once. I absolutely believe that he didn't hear what Chris was saying, since he changed gears so quickly, from Simon's criticism to the Va. Tech tragedy. But people will believe what they want to, no matter what. Give the guy a break!

Posted at 3:53PM on Apr 18th 2007 by beethoven girl

97. It was COMPLETELY clear to me that Simon's eyeroll was in response to Chris' statement regarding his nasal sound. It had NOTHING to do with VT. As Simon would say, this issue is rubbish. Get over it people, and look for something else to beetch about. Lay off Simon.

Posted at 3:05PM on Apr 18th 2007 by AmazedatStupidPeople

98. Tech is a huge school and everyone I know knows somebody who was there. I even know two who personally knew victims. Chris is NOT faking his sadness, and you who say it should be ashamed. He wasn't looking for a sympathy vote. You have no idea what this shooting has done to our state. If he HADN'T mentioned it, he would have been a heartless ass- but he's not, Simon is.

Posted at 3:04PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Michelle-K

99. After watching the past couple weeks and reading what Simon and Ryan are doing not only for our KIDS here in the U.S...but the KIDS in Africa.....How can anyone think he doesnt have feelings towards what is happening.........Simon.....You are loved by alot of people and I for one did not think you were showing any kind of disrespect last night......You yourself spoke up about the tragedy that happened.......and sent out your heart felt condolenses to the friends and families......

Your Great Simon.......Keep up the good work..........Here and all around the world

Posted at 3:06PM on Apr 18th 2007 by DENISE

100. If you watch AI, Simon is ALWAYS chatting up with Paula about who knows what and I believe what he's saying is true. Even Simon isn't heartless enough to not understand the loss of a human life. The media needs to stop making stupid crap like this up, it's ridiculous. It puts a bad stamp on Simon and it's not what we should be focusing on at this time. When Chris was talking about how nasally was a form of singing and he did it on purpose I rolled my eyes too!! That's a lame excuse for sounding CRAPPY. I did like Chris but after his nasally voice rant, I'm not so sure. Singing nasally might be a form of singing, but it's a form of singing that sounds awful.

Posted at 3:26PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Christine

101. SIMON IS A STAND-UP KIND OF GUY. HE DID NOT ROLL HIS EYES REGARDING THE STATEMENT ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS AT VT. HE IS TOTALLY HONEST, WHETHER OR NOT HIS COMMENTS ARE WHAT ANYONE WANTS TO HEAR, BE SURE, WHAT YOU ARE HEARING IS THE TRUTH. I DO BELIEVE THAT HE ROLLED HIS EYES ABOUT THE NASAL SOUND. BE GRATEFUL FOR TOTAL HONESTY, NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THAT QUALITY.

Posted at 3:08PM on Apr 18th 2007 by DENISE LAURA

102. I honestly don't think Simon meant it--He is sorry. Everyone is going to have their own opinions about Simon, but I don't think he's a bad guy...I believe that he tells people the blunt honest truth in his opinion, people just get mad because they don't always agree with him or because he's "mean" but...his critique of the singers is supposed to help them improve. and most of all....PRIOR to the comment Chris made...if you were paying attention to the TV...SIMON was the FIRST person to offer condolences to the VT Families...so why would he roll his eyes when Chris did the same thing? I believe he rolled his eyes about Chris' previous comment...not about VT...Think about it...why would Simon do that if he made the same comment earlier? He's not heartless like some people make him out to be...relax. I know it's a sad and painful time for people...but you can't lash out at people because you take something the wrong way and because you're upset...I have friends at VT and I go to a University not far from there so I'm greatly affected...but you don't see me jumping down Simon's throat...

Posted at 3:10PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Katie

103. America will not forgive this one Simon. No matter what you explain you were really doing or reacting to, you yourself said "i wasnt listening"..your timing was bloody awful, you knew the kid was from VA, AI said that night their hearts went out to VT...than you are gabbing with Paula during the VA kids segment? That alone is disrespectful, so much for AI heartfelt thoughts last night, while youre' playing footsy with Abdul...

Terrible Timing on a Terrible Night for a show that has finally exposed itself for what it really is this year.

You and Lithgoe should return to England and go join up with the Royal Sailors who practically handed over your Country to Iran. You're both a couple of traitors and losers and America is figuring it out.

Posted at 3:12PM on Apr 18th 2007 by End It

104. Simon was obviously responding to Chris's stupid statement about sounding "nasally" on purpose...who does that? It was just bad timing to show him while Chris switched to the VT students. Certainly everyone feels horrible for those poor kids. As a side note, Sanjaya should feel quilty for encouraging the public to vote for him. He's turned an interesting show into a joke! Rock on Simon, people love to hate you, but you're the only one who really tells it like it is!

Posted at 3:37PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Tired Of Idiots

105. Simon knew just what he was doing with his little tapping and eye roll, but then what would one expect from a stuck up, snubby, pompus ass piece of Brit crap like him. He should join Don Imus in the Land of make believe and leave the rest of us alone!!

Posted at 3:13PM on Apr 18th 2007 by Frank

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