Simon Cowell’s strange behavior on AGT Season 18: Why is the judge not speaking?
The music mogul had a health issue while filming.
Simon Cowell has long been known for his quick tongue and caustic remarks, so it was surprising to see the 63-year-old appear more subdued than usual during season 18 of American Idol.
Simon remained silent while co-stars Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Howie Mandel discussed tryouts, but not for lack of interest.
Simon hasn’t said much during AGT season 18 due to a medical issue, as he detailed in an interview with USA Today.
“I think what happened was that the acid from my stomach burned my vocal cords,” he said. “So, this doctor came over and put a camera up my nose and down my throat, and I could see how badly burned they were.”
“There was so much I wanted to say about auditions that I literally couldn’t talk,” he went on. “We tried to write things down. I used to use an iPad tablet to store stuff I’d previously discussed. I attempted to ask Sofia to interpret for me, and she purposely said the wrong things. So it was all chaotic.”
Simon remarked that being unable to speak for a week during the auditions helped him acquire a new outlook.
“I had to sit there and not say anything for about seven days, so all I could do was listen to the other judges.”
“And it was very interesting because they’ve all grown up enough to have preferences now.” As a result, we likely disagreed more this year, but in a positive way. You can’t be an expert on everything when evaluating this show because of the variety of acts.”
Simon has had a series of health concerns in recent years, and in May he reflected on how the incidents, which included two bike accidents, impacted his life.
“It was painful, it wasn’t great,” he said on The Today Show, adding, “but I was so unfit before the accident that it was worth it. And I didn’t understand how out of shape I was until I had to perform all the follow-up stuff.”
“And I was like, ‘My God!’ Things like that, I believe happen for a reason,” Simon continued, adding that he had no intention of stopping riding anytime soon.
“I’m still going to stay on my bike, I’m obsessed with these things,” he said, much to the pleasure of his co-stars.
