June 10th 2024.
In a recent podcast interview, Simon Cowell became emotional as he shared his experience of losing both his parents. The famous Britain's Got Talent judge and music mogul, who is currently on the lookout for the next big boy band, lost his father Eric in 1999 and his mother Julie in 2015. He opened up about the grief he went through and how he believes their presence is still with him.
"Having gone through, which was, no question, losing both my parents was the hardest thing that ever happened to me," Simon said, struggling to hold back tears. "Everyone says that with time, it will get better. But I thought, 'No, it won't.' The truth is, it does get better, as long as you believe that their presence is still with you. Oh gosh, sorry, give me a minute."
During the candid and emotional interview with Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Simon broke down as he recalled being in a downward spiral before his son Eric was born in 2014. He named his son after his late father and described his parents as his biggest fans.
Although Simon's father Eric passed away before he truly rose to fame, he did get to see his son become successful in the music world. However, his mother's death in 2015 after battling dementia was a huge blow to the family. In a statement, they announced, "Today our beloved mum Julie passed away. Anyone who had met her would know what a truly special and kind lady she was. We are heartbroken and will miss her terribly, but she is now at peace."
Simon also opened up about his career and how it pales in comparison to the devastation of losing someone you love. "I've really, really enjoyed every successful moment of my career," he said. "Even when things haven't gone quite to plan, there's still a story or something to learn from it. But when you compare that to the devastation of losing someone, it really is meaningless. Everything meant nothing at that point. I was desperately unhappy, working all hours like a vampire, going to bed at 7 am and waking up at 2 pm."
He credited his son Eric for saving him from his downward spiral. "Without question, my son Eric saved me," Simon said. "I had reached a point where nothing mattered. I almost can't even remember everything from that period. It hit me so hard. The hardest thing was being on television, feeling like a clown. I was dying inside, and yet I still had to do my job to the best of my abilities. I put on a ton of weight and was eating junk. If I had been hit by a bus the next day, I would have been dead, but I wasn't worried about that."
Simon also shared that he still struggles with depression at times but becoming a father has transformed his life. He never considered taking his own life, but he admits that if something awful had happened to him, it wouldn't have bothered him. He described his love for Eric as pure and explained how it has come full circle as he sees himself caring for his son just like his parents did for him.
"It's how I feel for Eric, just that pure love. They just want the best for you, and in return, you feel the same about them," Simon said with a smile. "It's how I feel about Eric. Everything starts to come full circle." He also encourages people to watch the full interview on The Diary of a CEO podcast, where he shares more about his journey and how he has found a better work-life balance.
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