Simon Cowell has finally come clean about the infamous moment from Britain’s Got Talent 2009 when he, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan made cruel judgments about Susan Boyle’s audition. In a recent interview on the Celebrity Trenches podcast, Cowell described the trio’s reaction to the now-iconic singer as “awful and horrible,” acknowledging that their behavior was “disgusting” and a “wake-up call.”
Susan Boyle, who stunned audiences with her breathtaking rendition of I Dreamed A Dream, faced mockery and skepticism from the judges when she first stepped onto the stage. Cowell recalls his harsh reactions, admitting that he and Piers exchanged “the worst looks ever.” He confesses now, “I look back and I just think, ‘My God, we look awful. Horrible. I actually don’t think we looked bad enough. I think we were even worse than that.’”
Simon Cowell has lamented his, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan’s ‘awful and horrible’ behaviour towards Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent in a new interview
The music mogul, 66, admitted the singer’s audition back in 2009 was ‘a wake-up call’ for the panel after their ‘disgusting’ reactions to her were televised
The panel’s dismissive behavior toward Susan was broadcast to millions, and Simon regrets the “judgmental” attitude they displayed. “We were worse than we even realized,” Cowell admitted. “It was a wake-up call. You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
But despite the initial judgment, Susan Boyle had the last laugh. Her powerhouse performance left the audience, judges, and millions of viewers speechless. She went on to finish as the runner-up in the 2009 series, and her career skyrocketed. Susan became an international sensation, earning an estimated £30 million, with appearances on global stages and recordings that solidified her as an icon.
Simon has now said how the three judges shouldn’t have ‘judged a book by its cover’ after himself and Piers gave each other the ‘worst looks ever’
Simon added: ‘I look back and I just think, “my God we look so awful, horrible.” I actually don’t think we look bad enough. I think we were even worse than that’
Looking back, Susan revealed the pain of her first audition, describing it as “suffocating” and feeling like an “act in a freak show.” “Everyone was laughing at me; they wondered who this daft woman with the crazy hair was,” she shared. Despite this, Susan’s positivity and resilience ultimately won over the world.
Since her BGT days, Susan has undergone a stunning transformation—showcasing her fitness journey, a new blonde look, and an uplifting social media presence. With 178,000 followers on Instagram, she now shares playful posts with famous faces like Elton John and Lionel Richie, and even promotes her own Subo merchandise. The world has seen her bloom, and Susan’s legacy is forever tied to that unforgettable audition and her triumphant rise to stardom. 🌟
Catch more of this sensational journey in the latest episode of Celebrity Trenches with Jamie East!
