Simon Cowell Baby

Simon Cowell is finally coming to terms with fatherhood ... saying he feels "good" about the fetus growing inside Lauren Silverman ... and adding, "I'm proud to be a dad."

Cowell made the comments to BBC -- the first time he's really addressed the runaway sperm that knocked up the New York socialite.

"Things are changing in my life for the better," Simon said ... adding, "[Silverman] is a very special girl."

The 53-year-old gazillionaire says he's changed his outlook on parenthood in the past few months and insinuated that he wasn't always so keen on the idea ... explaining, "Now I know I feel good about it."

So far, no word on when the baby is due.

The path is clear for Simon Cowell, because TMZ has learned his baby mama, Lauren Silverman just settled her divorce with Andrew Silverman.

Sources connected to the case tell TMZ ... the settlement occurred a few hours ago. We're told Lauren and Andrew have agreed to some form of joint custody over their 7-year-old son.

As for money ... we're told Lauren got just north of $2 million.

And we're also told Lauren will definitely live in New York City so she can be close to her son.

Sources say Lauren and Simon are still "very much together."

Lauren Silverman is pissed because she believes that her estranged hubby's friends are talking crap on her to TMZ, and what they are saying is a pack of lies, this according to close friends of Lauren.

Simon Cowell's baby mama is livid over our story that she has a hard choice to make -- move to Beverly Hills and live with Simon or stay in NY and live with her son. Her friends say she would never move away from New York.

Before Lauren totally flies off the handle she should note that our story says she's in the final stages of signing a lease for a NY apartment and is "setting up shop" in the Big Apple.

If Lauren's friends are telling the truth, it's an interesting twist because that would mean Simon would be living 2475 air miles away from his child.

Short Story: Lauren's got 2 baby daddies on separate coasts, so something's got to give.

No fetus is gonna slow Simon Cowell's roll -- the "X Factor" judge is still partying his ass off on a yacht in the French Riviera ... with bikini-clad women ... while his pregnant baby mama is waging her divorce war back in New York.

A shirtless Simon and his mystery blonde were photographed just hours ago, soaking up the rays on France's Mediterranean coast ... not a care in the world.

Meanwhile, Simon's baby mama Lauren Silverman is toughing out nasty divorce proceedings with her estranged husband.

Lauren Silverman has a lot to hide --- if you believe her soon-to-be ex-husband Andrew Silverman – and she was true to form Saturday on the beach in the Hamptons.

Lauren hit the sand wearing very un-beach like attire in the 81-degree heat.

Lauren has a lot to mull over these days … moving to California to live with Simon Cowell where she will lose custody or staying in NY where she has a chance.

Simon Cowell's baby mama Lauren Silverman is playing “LET'S MAKE A DEAL” with estranged hubby Andrew Silverman -- and door number 1 is custody … door number 2 is living with Simon in California.

As TMZ previously reported both Lauren and Andrew want custody of their 7-year-old son. Sources connected to couple tell us they are still in active negotiations to settle the divorce, which involves not only custody but finances and division of property.

Our sources say everyone in the negotiation --- including Lauren --- has conceded that she cannot move the kid 2475 air miles away from Andrew ... a judge would never buy that anyway. As a result we've learned Lauren is in the final stages of getting a NY apartment and has even taken steps to set up shop there.

Our sources say it's pretty obvious in the end neither Lauren nor Andrew will have full custody – there will be a division…. something like joint custody.

If, however, Lauren decides to move to California to be with Simon and their unborn baby, we’re told her parental role with the 7 year old will diminish significantly.

One source connected with the couple tells us … Lauren is considering the move in part because the Beverly Hills estate provides more of a shield from public scorn than the crowded streets of New York.

Simon Cowell's relationship with Lauren Silverman was going on right under Andrew Silverman's nose, and he at the very least "kinda knew" what was going on ... this according to friends of the couple.

Multiple sources tell TMZ ... Lauren would spend hours on the phone at her home talking to Simon, and Andrew heard the whole thing. Several of their friends tell us they believe Andrew knew that Simon was banging his wife, and they think the outrage he's expressing now is a giant crock.

Several sources close to Andrew shade the story slightly differently. They say Andrew is telling them looking back there were plenty of "warning signs" but he just didn't pick up on them. They also acknowledge Andrew knew that Simon and Lauren were "flirting," but he didn't think that necessarily meant they were banging.

As for settling the divorce ... we're told they're still at an impasse, but continue to talk.

Simon Cowell is upset ... very upset he's in the middle of what is becoming a bitter divorce between Andrew Silverman and Simon's soon-to-be baby mama Lauren Silverman, and he's pressuring her to settle ... sources with direct knowledge of the situation tell TMZ.

We're told Simon HATES the bad publicity, which he feels is making him look like an underhanded cad. Our sources say Simon has painted a clear picture to Lauren -- the money she'll get from Andrew is minimal because of their prenup, so any significant cash will come from Mr. X Factor himself.

We're told Lauren is nervous and doesn't want to upset Simon, so she's feeling the heat. Her problem -- she and Andrew are at odds over custody of their 7-year-old son, and she feels she may have to give too much in order to end things and appease Simon.

Although both sides have said they want to resolve the divorce amicably for the sake of their kids, we can tell you there's a lot of bad blood on both sides and it's getting really nasty.

Andrew Silverman is PISSED after reading the TMZ post Saturday, in which close friends of Lauren told us she's upset at allegations she cheated on him ... because she says he knew about her relationship with Simon Cowell from the get go.

A close friend of the couple tells TMZ ... the notion that Andrew knew about the relationship is ridiculous, adding "She knows this isn't true."

Another thing that pissed Andrew off ... that sources told us Lauren was upset at stones being cast at her because Andrew partied with girls all over the world (though she never used the word "cheating.").

Andrew's friend tells us Andrew says it sounds like "a desperate attempt to smear him."

And the plot thickens. Lauren's lawyer fired off an email to us, saying a lot of the comments attributed to his client are inaccurate, though he doesn't specify which. He also says Lauren and Andrew are trying to settle the divorce privately.

As for Andrew ... the friend says "The two of them have been spending time trying to sort it out and keep things as normal as possible for the kid and this doesn't help."

Simon Cowell is in plenty of hot water ... which is what happens when you bang your friends wife and knock her up. Now Andrew Silverman is fighting Lauren for custody of their kid in a bitter divorce. So we gotta ask ...

Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman were spotted getting cozy a year ago on a boat -- while her husband was also on the boat! If that seems strange, that's because ... IT IS!

Unless, of course, you're used to chilling on a yacht ... where life is very different.

UPDATE: We got an email from Lauren's lawyer, saying "Many of the statements [in our story] are simply inaccurate," though he does not specify which. He adds the parties are trying to settle the case confidentially, on a "private basis."
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Lauren Silverman -- the woman who is pregnant with Simon Cowell's baby -- is telling close friends she is outraged at her estranged husband's "shock" that Simon was banging her ... because she says he knew what was going on the whole time and he was doing the same thing.

Sources close to Lauren tell TMZ ... Lauren is bitching that she hooked up with Simon partly because her estranged husband Andrew Silverman was cavorting around the world and partying with girls on various continents.

What's more ... Lauren is telling her friends her relationship with Simon evolved right in front of Andrew and he never said he had a problem with it -- it was a tacit mutual understanding.

Lauren is saying she would speak to Simon several times a day on the telephone and Andrew knew they were talking.

Lauren says she visited Simon in England several times and Andrew had no problem with the trips -- and it was obvious what was going on.

Lauren is beyond pissed that Andrew is now feigning shock, because she says he knew everything from the get go.

As for their divorce, Lauren is telling friends, there are no real money issues. The real sticking point is their 7-year-old son. Andrew wants full custody but Lauren is saying no way in hell will he get that.

Simon Cowell's ex-fiancée is doing something rarely seen in Hollywood -- treating his baby news like a bonafide adult because she's actually HAPPY for him ... sources tell TMZ.

After news broke Cowell knocked up Lauren Silverman ... it was reported that his ex-fiancée of two years Mezhgan Hussainy was devastated, thinking it should have been her.

Sources close to Mezhgan tell us, that couldn't be further from the truth. She and Simon have remained close since their split -- they're good friends and talk almost every day.

In fact, Simon told Mezhgan about the baby weeks ago -- and she immediately called Lauren, who she's also friends with, to offer her congrats and support ... knowing how stressful the media attention can be.

Bottom line: she's thrilled for the couple. As long as Simon's happy, she's happy.

The friend Simon Cowell betrayed wants out of his marriage STAT ... because he thinks his wife is a starf**ker who doesn't need any money from him because she'll get a ton of cash from Simon ... sources close to the couple tell TMZ.

Our sources say Andrew Silverman is gunning for primary custody of their 7-year-old son because Lauren is deficient as a parent ... often disappearing for long periods of time to hang with celebs. We're told Andrew found out of her affair with Simon this Spring, and was shocked when he saw a pic on TMZ Friday ... showing Simon and Lauren kissing in August, 2012, on a boat HE chartered.

We're told there is a prenup and the money issues in the divorce are "minor." The real issue is custody. As one source said, aside from the fact that Andrew doesn't think Lauren is a very good parent, there's an element of revenge for being utterly humiliated.

Randy Jackson predictably sidestepped our question about his good bud "American Idol" cohort Simon Cowell.

Randy had just landed at LAX and he pretended like he was coming from Mars when we asked about the happy-ish news that Simon was about to become a daddy after secretly banging his friend's wife.

Simon Cowell is solely focused on Lauren Silverman and their unborn baby -- despite allegations of betrayal from her estranged husband ... sources close to the couple tell TMZ.

We're told Simon is saying privately that his baby will "want for nothing." He will gladly provide for the child, and not just financially. Simon is saying he will be a committed, fully-involved parent and says he wants a big role in raising the child.

As for Lauren ... people who know Simon say he's never been happier than when he's with her.