Simon Cowell has addressed comments made by fellow former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, after she criticised him on Celebrity Big Brother.
When appearing on the ITV reality show alongside fellow former talent show judge, Louis Walsh, Osbourne referred to Cowell as someone who “doesn’t know how to keep friends”.
Following this, Britain’s Got Talent judge and TV personality Amanda Holden, shared her thoughts on the comments in a recent Daily Mail interview (via The Independent), saying that she “hated seeing certain people in a reality show dissing Simon”.
She continued: “He’s the person who’s given them all the chances, given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn’t have had.”
She added: “It’s bitter and pathetic.”
This began somewhat of an online feud between Osbourne and Holden, with the former providing a lengthy response to Holden’s comments.
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“The truth is, you don’t know me, Amanda,” said Osbourne. “You know nothing about my history in the music industry, my achievements, the artists I have worked with, the shows that I’ve produced, and my global celebrity.”
She added: “Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed doing them [TV talent competitions] at the time as they were great fun. Yes, Simon paid me very well. Probably more than what you’re receiving today, but all of that my darling went on a few handbags.”
Now, Cowell has weighed in on the situation, sharing that he remains friends with both Osbourne and Holden.
Speaking with The Daily Mirror, Cowell said: “I still consider Sharon and Louis really good friends, we could pick up the phone to each other tomorrow.”
He added on his friendship with his former colleagues: “Amanda is a great friend, but I really do believe Sharon and Louis are great friends as well.”
He admitted that Osbourne and Walsh’s appearance on Celebrity Big Brother made for good entertainment: “I don’t have a phone but from what I heard, what they said about me was actually quite funny.”
However, he also spoke on the pair’s highly publicised experience on the hit show: “If you put Sharon and Louis in the house, that’s what you pay them for, they’re going to be controversial.”
He concluded: “And I probably will phone them both in the next week or so because I haven’t spoken to them for a while and it sounds like I should do.”
Earlier this month, Osbourne doubled down on her criticism of James Corden while in the Big Brother house.