Simon is being Simon again…and sometimes that is not such a good thing. He has drawn fire in the last couple of weeks for remarks that can easily be interpreted as anti-gay. Now he is being criticized for comments made about people who are extremely over-weight. The details come from UPI:
UPI News Service, 02/01/2006
"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell's sharp tongue has gotten him in trouble with gay rights activists and now fat activists are joining the fray.
When "Idol" hopeful Anthony Andolino, 28, was dismissed by the judges after his audition that aired Tuesday night on Fox TV, Cowell remarked: "Just as well, we couldn't afford the food bill."
Sandy Schaffer of the National Association To Advance Fat Acceptance told "Access Hollywood" she found Cowell's remark "childish" and "stupid."
"The show seems to be saying you can't be gay, you can't be fat, you can't be anything different," Schaffer said. "It absolutely desensitizes the audience. It starts to make you feel this is OK."
Fellow judge Paula Abdul did not defend her colleague to "Access Hollywood."
"He's an ass. He's a pill," she said. "He says the dumbest things sometimes."
Simon has made it clear many times that he is looking for more than just a good voice. He is looking for the total marketable package. He feels that is required for a successful (pop) American Idol.
Our readers are not so sure. On Wednesday we began a reader survey asking what American Idol should be about. The Voice? or The Total Package? As I write this readers are split right down the middle with 50% saying the voice and 50% saying the total package.
You can add your view by taking the survey at the left.
Personally I agree with Simon. It's about a total (marketable) package. The talent show is not a search for the best singing voice. But I disagree with Simon's comments about gays and over-weight people. They are out-of-line, uncalled for, mean and cruel. They are cheap jokes. You can be right and you can be an ass. Simon is both.
He is rude. And I think he is trying to be.
Ron Lemon is the very opinionated, but not-always-right, editor of Reality TV Calendar. He is a United States Air Force veteran, a Pennsylvania Army National Guard veteran and retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. He lives on the southern shore of Canada with his fiancee and business partner Christine and their spoiled dog, Stash. He, Ron - not the dog, does this because he enjoys it, he hates alarm clocks, and it is better than getting up and going to work everyday. Until such time as he wins the lottery he can be reached at: Editor@RealityTVCalendar.com.
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