Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul go way back. The duo worked together for eight years as judges on Fox’s hit singing competition ‘American Idol.’ In 2009, however, Paula announced she would not be a judge during the show’s ninth season.
Cowell continued to voice his brutally honest opinion one more year, but he too called it quits in 2010. Though ‘Idol’ offered the star more money, he simply wanted to move on. He decided it was time Americans had another kind of show. Cowell began working on his new talent search programme, an American version of ‘The X Factor,’ shortly after his contract ended with ‘American Idol.’
On ‘American Idol,’ Cowell and Abdul were constantly seen bickering; Paula was known as the sweet-hearted spare your feelings type and Simon, suffice to say, was not. Despite their differences, the two always had a mutual respect for each other and even joked around filming a spoof affair for a former season finale of ‘Idol.’
The pair definitely have a love-hate relationship, because Simon invited Paula to be a judge on ‘The X Factor’ only to end up comparing her to a canine. Cowell told People Magazine, “It’s like owning a dog and the dog will only sit next to its master. If she’s away from me, she pines. She’s unhappy.”
Though this comment comes off as an insult, it’s obvious Cowell thinks a lot of his fellow judge. He went on to compliment Paula’s sense of humor, “loopy” personality and ability to spot a star.
‘The X Factor’ will premiere September 21 on Fox at 8/7c.
Watch the ‘Idol’ spoof of the Simon / Paula affair below:
