As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by dynamic duos, and this pair is no exception! They’re incredibly entertaining on screen, and honestly, their relationship is a real rollercoaster – sometimes they’re the best of friends, and other times, well, let’s just say things get a little tense. It’s that push and pull that makes them so captivating to watch!
Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell are reportedly arguing again, with Walsh, 73, reportedly calling Cowell, 66, a ‘has-been’ in a harsh insult.
Their recent falling out reportedly started because of Simon Cowell’s documentary, “Simon Cowell: The Next Act,” which came out late last year.
The show follows Simon as he creates a new boy band called December 10, with the goal of finding the next One Direction-level success.
People familiar with the situation say Louis was very upset after learning he wasn’t chosen for the Netflix show, with Pete Waterman – a former colleague from Pop Idol – getting the spot instead.
According to a source, he believed he was the most experienced and knowledgeable person Simon was employing.
They also told The Sun that he’s criticizing Britain’s Got Talent to get under Simon Cowell’s skin, knowing Cowell is already concerned about declining viewership numbers.
‘His criticism will have been a kick in the teeth.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Louis and Simon’s representatives for comment.
Simon and Louis knew each other for years before they became famous TV judges on The X Factor. Their history goes back long before they were household names.
However, their arguments about songs and critical comments about the contestants soon became the most captivating parts of the show.
Louis and Simon often appeared incredibly close—Louis even said Simon had profoundly impacted his life. However, there was underlying tension in their relationship.
It seems their friendship has ended completely, as Louis has said they haven’t talked for several years.
Louis recently launched a harsh criticism, stating that Simon’s show, Britain’s Got Talent, has run its course and that Simon is past his best.
Before the new season of Britain’s Got Talent premieres on ITV Friday night, Louis Walsh – a former guest judge on the show back in 2010 – told The Sun he doesn’t think the show is as good as it used to be.
‘Back in the old days, it was pulling in 12 million, and the whole country cared who won.
He added: ‘Now it doesn’t feel like that, who even won last year?’
Louis also said that Simon Cowell’s fiancée, Lauren Silverman, reportedly manages his schedule and communications, and that he hasn’t been in contact with Simon for several years.
He praised Simon, calling him a phenomenal player in his best years, but believes he’s lost some of his natural ability and is now advised by people who aren’t being honest with him.
The Sun reports that Louis supposedly sent texts claiming Simon’s career is over and that he’s surrounded by insincere people.
Louis Walsh, known for managing successful groups like Boyzone and Westlife, also criticized Simon Cowell’s new boyband, December 10, which was created on his Netflix show, Simon Cowell: The Next Act.
He playfully suggested the team should have been named after April Fool’s Day, but then sincerely expressed his hope that things go well for the players.
However, this is not the first time Louis has publicly criticised his former co-star.
During their time on Celebrity Big Brother in 2024, Louis and Sharon unexpectedly and strongly criticized Simon, with Sharon declaring she would refuse to work with him under any circumstances.
The singer shared that a contract with The X Factor, and specifically its head judge, blocked her from taking a major role on the American version of The Masked Singer.
Louis confirmed he hadn’t spoken to Simon since their time on The X Factor, explaining, ‘We haven’t talked at all – absolutely nothing. Not once.’
Just before going into the Celebrity Big Brother house, Louis criticized Simon’s fashion choices and the show’s new cast members.
He expressed deep affection for this person, saying he admired him greatly despite being aware of his flaws. He acknowledged that the man wasn’t perfect, pointing out things like his questionable fashion choices and how much his appearance had changed over time.
Honestly, I owe everything to this person – I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. But let’s be real, everyone loves a little dish, and I’m definitely guilty! I’ll share what I can, as long as I’m being discreet, of course. It’s just part of my personality, and I think a little behind-the-scenes talk keeps things interesting.
‘But we’re going to be on mic, so we can’t talk that much about everything we know!’
Simon didn’t seem bothered by the comments and, when asked about Sharon and Louis being on the show, he simply stated that he believed either of them could win.
Simon shared with The Mirror that he remains close with Sharon and Louis, saying they could easily reconnect if they wanted to.
He said he wasn’t going to respond to the comments, noting that their friendship was often comfortable with quiet moments and didn’t require constant conversation.
He explained: ‘Whenever I meet them, see them, speak to them, it’s like we’ve spoken yesterday.
‘My honest opinion is I think we miss each other.’
Louis was sensationally sacked from the X Factor in 2007 after being a judge since it began.
Okay, so for the fourth season, we made a change to the judging panel. We brought in Brian Friedman, a fantastic dancer and choreographer from the US, to take a seat and offer his expertise. He really brought a fresh perspective!
Just a few weeks after that, Brian moved on to a new position as a Creative Director, and Louis rejoined the team.
He previously told The Mirror that his proudest moment on the show was initially being hired, with Simon Cowell having to rehire him after firing him being a close second.
It’s strange, but even after he let me go, I still had a contract, so I knew I’d be compensated. Then Sharon let me know they were having issues and actually wanted to rehire me.
He explained that Simon didn’t need to convince him to return; Simon simply wanted the show to be as good as possible, and that’s why he asked him to come back.
In 2015, Louis quit the show, explaining that he felt humiliated, stressed, and like Simon was working against him.
According to the Irish star, Simon called him an ‘idiot and bland’.
Louis then returned to the show the following year and stayed up until 2018.
In 2019, Louis claimed that Simon had paid him ‘a lot’ of money to walk away from The X Factor.
Denying there had been a heated row behind the scenes, Louis told The Mirror: ‘I wasn’t kicked off.
‘In fact, I was paid off if you really want to know the truth.’
Before appearing together on The X Factor: Celebrity, Louis suggested that Simon doesn’t appreciate him having had less cosmetic surgery, and Louis being a judge serves as a constant reminder of that.
Louis recently shared that Simon doesn’t particularly like Westlife, despite the band being one of his biggest successes.
During an appearance on RTÉ’s The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In, Louis Walsh shared a memory of discovering Westlife. He explained that he immediately knew he’d found something special when he first heard the voices of Shane Filan and Mark Feehily.
This really happened. We were at the Westbury Hotel, and I felt confident I’d found something amazing for Simon.
He asked me to step out of the room, and I thought he was going to approve the documents, that he wanted them. But he said they were awful and told me I needed to revise four of them.
He went on to explain that he always believed Shane had potential. They decided to dye Shane’s hair blonde, which completely changed his appearance. A few months later, Simon asked who the fantastic new singer was, and he replied, “It’s the same guy you told me to fire!”
This really shows Simon Cowell wasn’t always as knowledgeable as people think. I enjoyed working with him, but he definitely made mistakes.
During the interview, Louis shared that Simon had a profound impact on his life, expressing his deep appreciation for their friendship.
The Mayo star said: ‘Straight up, Simon, I’m very good friends with him.
Getting a job on X Factor completely changed my life, all thanks to him. I never had any desire to be on television before, but he gave me the opportunity. He’s also a genuinely kind person.
He described the person as having a large ego and being very concerned with their appearance. Despite this, he enjoys working with them, finding the experience consistently engaging.
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2026-02-24 18:35