X-Factor

Simon Cowell may have committed a crime in addition to a bro sin by allegedly banging his good friend's wife ... because that, our friends, is considered CRIMINAL ADULTERY!

Who knew ... but we did some digging and found a New York law making homewrecking a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 3 months in jail.

As we reported ... real estate mogul Andrew Silverman filed divorce docs in NYC, alleging his wife Lauren and Simon committed adultery during his marriage and made a love child. She's 10 weeks pregnant.

Here it is ... THE FIRST PHOTO OF SIMON COWELL'S ALLEGED BABY -- unfortunately, you can't really see the thing because it's buried inside the womb of his friend's wife.

Simon's alleged baby mama Lauren Silverman -- the 36-year-old wife of his real estate pal Andrew Silverman -- stepped out in the Hamptons on Thursday, carrying Simon's little bundle of rapidly multiplying cells in her uterus (allegedly).

As we reported, Andrew just filed divorce docs claiming Lauren committed adultery when she conceived Simon's baby.

Adultery ... the real "ex" factor.

Simon Cowell is a homewrecker -- at least according to his good friend who filed divorce papers accusing Simon of banging and then knocking up his wife DURING their marriage, TMZ has learned.

Andrew Silverman has filed divorce docs in New York and TMZ has learned he's alleging ADULTERY in seeking to end his marriage to Lauren Silverman ... who is believed to be pregnant with Simon's child.

It's pretty shocking ... in New York claiming adultery is like a legal nuclear weapon ... if proven, the cheating party (and Simon) can be forced to take a DNA test -- something that's hard to get in New York when a couple is married and the wife gets pregnant.

In the docs, Silverman, the plaintiff, lists Lauren as a defendant and Cowell as a co-respondent.

Andrew doesn't pull any punches in the divorce papers, saying, "The nature of this action is: to dissolve the marriage between the parties based upon (1) the commission of acts of adultery by the defendant and (2) defendant's cruel and inhuman treatment of the plaintiff."

Judge this: Simon Cowell impregnated his good friend's wife ... and she's already nearly 3 months along ... this according to reports.

Us Weekly broke the story, reporting Cowell is expecting a child with New York socialite Lauren Silverman, the estranged wife of Cowell's close friend Andrew Silverman, a real estate mogul.

36-year-old Lauren and her husband have been in the middle of a divorce for a while ... but still haven't severed the cord.

Lauren is reportedly 10 weeks pregnant. FYI, Simon is 53 and this would be his first child.

Lauren's got talent too ... she's pretty damn hot. And it's safe to say Simon has a type. Just check out his recent exes, Mezhgan Hussainy and Terri Seymour.

"X-Factor" producers concocted an elaborate scheme in order to GUARANTEE the failure of one H.S. Show Choir ... all for the sake of shaming them on national television, so say the alleged victims.

Members of Hollywood High School choir -- H20 -- filmed a segment for the upcoming season of "X-Factor"

But things didn't go as planned. The leader of H20 tells TMZ ... producers had a sick plan to humiliate and embarrass their crew when they appeared on stage.

They rehearsed an awesome song "Some Nights" by FUN, but at the last minute producers told them the song wasn't on the approved list. Ditto the other song they rehearsed -- "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele.

They ended up singing "Shake It Out" by Florence and the Machine ... and it was a disaster. For starters, Simon cut the choir off before they could get through the song ... because they were wearing normal street clothes instead of their uniforms. But here's the thing -- they say producers insisted that the group NOT wear the uniforms.

But wait -- there's more. The group claims they had to wait 14 hours before taking the stage, they weren't able to rehearse, and they only gave the 14 choir members 6 mics.

The group tells us ... they're demanding an apology because they feel they were purposefully humiliated.

A rep for "X-Factor" tells TMZ ... "The group had the chance of performing 2 songs for judges. The judges didn't think they were good enough to move forward in this competition."

Then adds, "Certain songs cannot be cleared for use in the show and contestants are informed of this in advance and are asked to choose alternative songs if this is the case. None of the judges even commented on what the group was wearing."

Now here's what the group sounds like .... singing "Some NIghts" at TedX in Hollywood.

Demi Lovato used her "X Factor" pulpit to take not one, but two shots at Justin Bieber during auditions this week ... and there was no mistaking her intentions ... she's no fan of Biebs.

It all went down Wednesday on the campus of USC when Demi took exception to the attitude one contestant was giving off. Sources on set say when it was Demi's turn to give her opinion on the 22-year-old wannabe, she said that the industry already has too many artists with bad attitudes and then commented, "We don't need another little punk running the streets."

Lovato's next shot was less subtle ... when a young man auditioned with Bieber’s own song, “As Long As You Love Me.” We're told the audience loved his performance and so did the judges, but during her critique, Demi remarked, "Well finally someone can sing the song the way it was meant to be sung.”

"The X Factor" is upping the sexy factor -- TMZ has learned Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio are signing on to be judges for next season.

Sources connected to FOX tell TMZ the pair are in final negotiations to join the show ... with only minor details left to be hammered out before they sign on.

We're told the deals will be done in the next few days, possibly as early as tomorrow.

Rowland and Rubio would be replacing Britney Spears and L.A. Reid ... and joining returning judges Demi Lovato and (of course) Simon Cowell.

Khloe Kardashian has been eliminated from "X Factor."

Fox released a statement moments ago, claiming Khloe will NOT be returning as a host for Season 3 ... but Mario Lopez will.

The network didn't give a reason for chopping Khloe, but said, "We really enjoyed working with her and wish her all the best in her future endeavors." Translation: Sayonara sucker!

We think they screwed up by making her read a teleprompter -- it was a total "deer-in-the-headlights" experience watching her struggle through the shows.

He went from Smokey Robinson to Smokey and the Bandit in less than 30 minutes -- a contestant on "X Factor" stole a car after his audition and went on a crazy chase before he was subdued.

Orrion Wilson from Florida -- of course -- was plum out of money after his audition near New Orleans. He didn't have enough for bus fare, so he went to a gas station ... lying in wait ... until a chump left his car running and went inside for cigarettes or something. Wilson took off in the car and led cops on a 75-mph chase, which ended with the rusty trusty "pit maneuver."

Wilson told authorities he did well in the audition and expected to return for round 2 in NYC, but needed some wheels to get there.

Wilson is still in custody.

Khloe Kardashian did not go the way of Paula Abdul ... and Nicole Scherzinger ... and Cheryl Cole ... and Steve Jones ... and has NOT been 86'd from "X Factor" ... this according to Kim Kardashian.

Rumors have been swirling all week long ... that "X Factor" honchos didn't feel Khloe was a good fit for the show and won't be bringing her back as a co-host next season.

But last night at LAX, Kim told us, "A lot of people say a lot of incorrect things on the daily."

When we asked what really did happen, Kim said, "Probably nothing."

Our "X Factor" sources tell us ... no decision on Khloe's fate has been decided at this point ... but exec. producer Simon Cowell is definitely thinking about staffing for next season.

Britney Spears just released a statement confirming the story TMZ first reported ... that she's leaving "X Factor" and will go back to making music ... but Spears notes it was a "very difficult decision."

"I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it's time for me to get back in the studio," Spears said.

She continues, "Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can't wait to get back out there and do what I love most."

Demi Lovato is rich and famous, and can afford to live just about anywhere she wants ... but we've learned she's been living in a fairly spartan sober living facility for more than a year.

It's actually pretty awesome ... Demi does not want to fall back into the grip of addiction, where she found herself back in 2010, when she admitted she had problems with anorexia, bulimia and cutting.

After going to rehab, the 20-year-old seemed better, but ultimately felt she needed the support and guidance from counselors and other addicts who understood her situation.

Sources tell us ... shortly after her inpatient rehab, she moved into a facility in the L.A. area. It's interesting ... considering she also owns a very nice home in L.A..

We're told during the entire season of "X Factor" Demi felt it was best to come home to the facility, where she wouldn't lose her way.

As for how long she'll stay there ... it's undetermined.

In a town with a lot of stars who never figure it out, it's pretty amazing when you see someone as young as her make such good decisions.

Britney Spears will NOT be a judge on "X Factor" next season -- and it's entirely her doing ... TMZ has learned.

We have unimpeachable sources who tell us Britney loves the show but wants to focus on her music ... which she is doing right now. Britney is in the studio recording her 8th album, with some help from Will.i.am and producer Hit-Boy, the brains behind Kanye and Jay-Z's "N****s in Paris."

One of our sources tells us ... "Britney loves Simon, she likes Demi Lovato but her thing is music."

We're told after she completes the album, Britney is seriously considering going on tour again.

Walking away from $15 mil ...Yeah, she's that rich.

Demi Lovato took a page out of Britney Spears' down-home playbook, and spent Christmas day stuffing her face in an unexpected, but awesome, place -- the International House of Pancakes!

Demi hit up an IHOP in Texas with her family for dinner on Tuesday, and the 'X Factor' judge's ruling was -- AWESOME! She tweeted ... "Literally the best Christmas I've ever had."

The only person more excited than Demi about the meal -- a rep for IHOP who tells TMZ, "We are thrilled that Ms. Lovato came to IHOP for her Christmas Dinner and we look forward to her visiting us throughout the year."

Simon Cowell has TWENTY THOUSAND reasons to cry over Thursday night's "X Factor" results show -- and it's all thanks to a rich-person bet he made with L.A. Reid.

TMZ has learned ... Simon and L.A. made a wager at the beginning of the season ... and if either judge had a contestant win the whole shebang ... the losing judge would cough up $20k.

So when L.A.'s contestant Tate Stevens took home the crown ... he grew just a tiny bit richer than he already is. And since Simon's no sore loser, we're told he plans on cutting the check ASAP.

Simon Cowell -- who normally says exactly what's on his mind -- was holding back BIG TIME on the subject of LeAnn Rimes last night ... 'cause while he insisted the singer was sober, he DEFINITELY couldn't say it with a straight face.

Simon was outside Mixology at The Grove in L.A. last night, when we asked about LeAnn's bizarre duet with Carly Rose Sonenclar on "X Factor" this week ... the one that left people thinking she was hammered.

Simon told us he thought the performance was "interesting" ... and he didn't believe LeAnn was on drugs or alcohol at the time. Buuut ... the giant poop-eating grin on his face makes it hard to believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.

Still, Simon says ... LeAnn is welcome back to the show any time she wants.