When the pet project of Simon Cowell failed to perform well in a new American market, Cowell was forced to make some tough decisions. One of those was firing celebrity judge Paula Abdul.
According to People, the 52-year-old Cowell said booting Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger from “The X Factor” was entirely a business decision.
“I would’ve liked to have kept [Paula],” the British television producer told Extra. “She was very gracious, and I said that to her. She understands it’s business. It’s never personal.”
Cowell added that he had too high of expectations for “The X Factor,” a talent competition-based show that performed well in the U.K. That set him up for failure and forced him into the position in which he now finds himself, he said.
“It’s only because I opened my big mouth and said we were going to get 20 million [viewers],” Cowell said. “If I hadn’t said that, everybody would be saying the show was a huge success.”
And in the end, Cowell was forced to let Abdul and Scherzinger go. Only L.A. Reid will remain as a fellow judge, People said.
Cowell is now on the hunt for new judges for the show. Dismissing rumors that Beyonce was being considered, he instead discussed Madonna as “great” but “expensive” and mentioned Katy Perry as a potential “fun” and “feisty” addition to “The X Factor.”
As for Mariah Carey, Cowell said, “I would love her. But you can’t expect someone who’s just had two kids to make the kind of commitment you would need on this show.”
The second season of “The X Factor” will premiere on Fox, People said.
