SIMON Cowell has slammed some former contestants of The X Factor, claiming they’ve “got it in” for him.
Former show stars such as Katie Waissel and Steve Brookstein have hit out at the music mogul, who recently returned to screens with a new Netflix show, over recent years.
Katie, 36, who was branded the “most hated contestant” when she appeared on the show in 2010, has sought therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after suffering panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.
And in 2023, she said she was retraining as a lawyer to sue Simon’s firm Syco Entertainment.
Talking on the The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Simon was asked by host Richard Osman: “What’s your feeling about the ones who are sort of almost unionizing?
“I think Katie Waissel ended up training as a lawyer and she’s trying to bring some action against you for exploitation or whatever it is. What’s your feeling about that?”
Simon responded: “The vast majority of people, they’ve made a lot of money and got what they wanted – which was fame.
“So certain people, they’ve just got it in for me. There’s nothing I can do about that.”
Simon also suggested that disgruntled singers should “change careers”.
Assuring that there was a duty of care on The X Factor, Simon said: “We’d always sit with them beforehand and go, there is something that comes with it, lack of privacy and you got to deal with it.
“If you don’t like that, then I suggest become an accountant or a gardener or something where no one knows who you are and you won’t have that problem.”
Simon had a flurry of successful acts during his time on the show, including One Direction, JLS and Little Mix.
However, some former show stars have bad blood with the businessman,
In 2023, Katie told The Times that the show “ruined” her life, stating: “I am pursuing a civil case of personal injury under negligence, which pertains to duty of care.
“The show ruined my life. There are so many of us who have been so trapped and it’s not fair, there was a huge imbalance in power.”
While Steve, the show’s first ever winner, also slammed Simon in an interview with the Daily Mail last year.
“The X Factor gave me everything I didn’t want: humiliation. It’s been like an albatross around my neck.”
He also claimed: “He [Cowell] said ‘You’re so lucky you didn’t enter [the show] this year – the standard’s so much better. Last year was a bit of a joke.’ It was unnecessary. I’d just had a number one album.”
While former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall has thrown numerous digs at Simon since pursuing a solo career.
Simon’s newest signing, December 10, are currently working on new music after getting put together by the mogul this year.
