Will Young Recalls Feud with Simon Cowell on Pop Idol
The singer expressed fears that Cowell might have ended his career due to their disagreements during the show.
Singer Will Young has spoken about his past conflicts with music mogul Simon Cowell during their time on the reality television show Pop Idol, recalling fears that Cowell could have "destroyed his career."
Young, who won the competition in 2002, recounted a notable clash with Cowell, then a judge. After Young performed "Light My Fire" by The Doors, Cowell described the rendition as "distinctly average." Young publicly disagreed with the assessment, stating, "I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it was average."
The tension escalated following Young's victory and subsequent record deal. He described a significant fallout with Cowell when the music executive proposed that Young record an Elvis song as a double A-side to a cover of The Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road," which was also being recorded by fellow finalist Gareth Gates. Young refused, telling Cowell, "Can’t do it." This refusal led to a serious disagreement.
After this dispute, Young sought advice from Simon Fuller, who also had a stake in his career, asking if Cowell could damage his professional future. Fuller reportedly assured him that such a move would not happen.
Young stated that he did not like Cowell, describing him as a bully. He explained that his aversion stems from his own experiences with bullying during his school years, which made him particularly sensitive to such behavior. "My touch point for that type of person is finely tuned," Young said.
Producer Steve Lipson eventually produced Young's second album, and the singer credits him with helping to sustain his career. Young's reflections on his relationship with Cowell have been a recurring theme in interviews, including discussions on podcasts.
He previously described his relationship with Cowell as "non-existent" and felt Cowell "just sort of hated me." Young acknowledged that the intense public nature of their disagreements during Pop Idol may have inadvertently boosted his profile, leading viewers to become curious about him.
Reflecting on his youth and Cowell's power at the time, Young expressed pride in standing up for himself and others. He recalled meeting Cowell previously in a boy band competition and already disliking him, perceiving him as an "unpleasant" individual. Young felt compelled to confront Cowell on live television because no one else appeared to be challenging him, stating, "I thought, 'no one's telling this man. Why is no one telling him?' And so I was like, 'I'm going to tell him.'"
Young also noted that he had experienced personal loss and bouts of depression before his rise to fame, which he believes contributed to his ability to confront Cowell without excessive fear. He felt that many contestants on similar shows subsequently experienced "awful behaviour" that has been documented.
