During his tenure as a judge on talent shows such as American Idol, X Factor, and AGT, Simon Cowell earned the moniker “Mr. Annoying.” Many viewers remember his blunt critiques and occasional clashes with contestants.
In recent years, Simon has displayed a softer side. He‘s known to be easily touched by particularly heartfelt performances and touching stories. In fact, he has been seen shedding tears on several occasions.
Dave & Finn:
It‘s common knowledge that Simon has a deep affection for dogs, so it‘s no surprise that he was captivated by this BGT magic act featuring a former police officer and his loyal canine companion, Finn. Finn had saved Dave‘s life and nearly lost his own in the process. As their story unfolded on screen, viewers could witness Simon‘s tears.
Evie Clair:
During the AGT semi–final, the young singer sang Ella Henderson‘s “Yours” while her father was battling colon cancer in the hospital. After her performance, Simon praised her voice as “beautiful” and added, “Your dad would be so proud of you.” As host Tyra Banks pointed out, you could hear him choking back tears as he spoke.
Michael Ketterer:
Simon awarded a Golden Buzzer to this AGT singer who shared his story of working as a pediatric mental health nurse and adopting five children. When he performed James Bay‘s “Us” in the semi–final, Simon became so emotional that he asked Tyra to give him a moment. Despite her insistence on hearing his thoughts, he eventually shared them, all while teary–eyed.
‘X Factor: Celebrity‘ Finalists:
Simon recently broke down in tears during the X Factor: Celebrity finale after watching the finalists perform a charity cover of Snow Patrol‘s “Run.” This song held special significance as it benefited a charity that was close to Simon‘s heart, involving two children. Simon was so overwhelmed that he couldn‘t even speak, and his partner Lauren Silverman rushed over to embrace him.
