"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell has received death threats from a furious reject of his latest British talent show, "The X-Factor."
The wannabe is fuming after Cowell insulted him onstage and has vowed vengeance in e-mails to a fellow contestant, which reveal plans to stab the 42-year-old.
The threatening messages are so violent, Cowell has hired an additional bodyguard to protect him while on the "X-Factor" set.
Cowell says, "My bosses told me they have been shown e-mails threatening my life. They said one man wanted to stab me.
"It sent a chill down me. But I'm used to it."
Cowell's fellow judges on the show are Sharon Osbourne and Westlife manager Louis Walsh.
i dont think simon deserves a death threat. i mean Simon's a mean guy who tells what he thinks. so what? i happen to think simon's a great guy. then the guy start giving him death threats?!! dude, people need to start accepting the truth or accept some kind of criticism whether it will offend them or not. he's a judge, like what else is he suppose to do? i havent seen the show so i wouldn't know what goes on. but i think it's a bit immature that the guy would just start giving out threats to him.
||Carmen Rasmusen is my Idol||<3 Tears. Run. Dry = best song ever.
I agree, I think people like Simon Cowell on Pop Idol, your nasty judge on American Idol (forgoten his name, sorry) and our Ian Dickson on Australian Idol are a breath of fresh air. TV now-a-days is so nice, sickly sweet nice, everyone loves everyone and even they hate someone, they do it in a passive way. It's nice to have the occassional person on TV who says it like it is.
the nasty judge here for American Idol is also Simon Cowell. most people on tv nowadays are afraid they might be hurting people's feelings so they usually try to keep the comments positive. but hey, it's much better to tell what you think than lie about it, right? i agree the judges who arent afraid to tell what they think are a breath of fresh air to these singing competitions, i think it makes it much more exciting to watch too.
||Carmen Rasmusen is my Idol||<3 Tears. Run. Dry = best song ever.
Cowell in legal spat over X Factor 'rip-off' claim
Simon Cowell has branded "totally ridiculous" a legal action being taken against him by his sometime collaborator Simon Fuller over his new ITV show, The X Factor.
Mr Fuller's production company, 19 TV, has issued writs for breach of copyright and contract, claiming that the show, which began on ITV last Saturday, is a Pop Idol rip-off.
"This whole thing is totally and utterly ridiculous," Mr Cowell said. His spokesman, Max Clifford, added: "I'm surprised that when Pop Idol started they didn't get a writ from Popstars, Opportunity Knocks, New Faces and all the other talent shows that went before it. Whatever next - will the BBC be getting a writ from Coronation for EastEnders?
"Historically in these situations I can't remember any case when the allegations have been successful, but I'm sure the lawyers will do very well."
The bust-up could end one of the most fruitful partnerships in television: Mr Cowell and Mr Fuller have made millions from Pop Idol, which they have exported around the world.
Mr Cowell is contracted to work as a judge on another two series of American Idol in the US, but their future collaboration must now be in doubt.
Mr Fuller launched the legal action against Mr Cowell, his firms Simco and Syco, and the co-producer of The X Factor, Fremantle Media. As well as taking legal action for copy right infringement, 19 TV is suing for breach of contract because it claims a large number of The X Factor's production team formerly worked on Pop Idol and have clauses in their contracts that prevent them from working on rival programmes.
Although ITV1's plans for The X Factor were unveiled some months ago, Mr Fuller is understood to have launched legal action only after seeing what he believed were clear similarities between the new show and Pop Idol when the first episode was broadcast a week ago.
19 TV is preparing a video comparing elements of Pop Idol and The X Factor, including logos, music and direction, to use as part of its legal action. It will highlight alleged similarities in the formats, such as having the contestants emerge from the audition rooms, either elated or in tears, to be hugged by the presenters.
19 TV is expected to argue that the only difference is that in Pop Idol the hugging was done by Ant and Dec, while in The X Factor it is by Kate Thornton, previously the host of ITV2's Pop Idol coverage.
The legal spat between Mr Fuller, Mr Cowell and Fremantle, the production subsidiary of the Bertelsmann-owned RTL, has an added edge because it could threaten their future collaboration on the American Idol.
08-31-2004 03:16 AM
Man I must be tired 
