Public Relations - Simon Cowell

Essay of Creative Experience

SIMON COWELL

Known for his outlandish comments and crude remarks to contestants on American Idol, Simon Cowell is the perfect candidate of a publicity stunt. Simon’s signature phrase of “I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But…” on the popular television series, American Idol have people everywhere tuning in. Even in “World Idol” in 2003 it was obvious Mr. Cowell was a villain everyone wanted more of, each participating country had their own version of Simon. Today’s most valiant watchers have a love-hate relationship with the British judge. Last year he signed a contract with Fox for 36 million dollars. What is it about Simon that people can’t get enough of?

Some could say Simon’s attitude sparks from the way he grew up. Simon Cowell has been a nuisance from the beginning. He was raised by nannies all of his early childhood. He never had a strong relationship with either his mother or his father. Once he was able to go to school Simon was placed in boarding schools. He was kicked out of one after another because of his terrible temper and severe misconduct. Finally at the age of sixteen he left school all together. He was hired by EMI Records as a mail room clerk in 1979 getting his foot in the door for the industry.

One could go as far to say that Simon is not in fact being rude he is just blunt. Blunt is defined insensitively frank or honest: very frank or straightforward and showing no delicacy or consideration. It’s not necessarily a bad thing to tell the truth. Maybe Simon doesn’t want to sugar cote what all of America is thinking like the fellow judges on the panel Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. When asked about his bluntness Simon reported, “I think you have to judge everything based on your personal taste. And if that means being critical, so be it. I hate political correctness. I absolutely loathe it."

Randy, Paula and some of American Idols biggest fans would argue that Simon’s antics are the other definition of the word blunt, not sharp. Simon has a different attitude about what judge, Paula Abdul, has said to contestants. He believes they are putting a