X FRIENDS
Sharon Osbourne’s bitter feud with Simon Cowell after Celebrity Big Brother exit and branding him ‘snotty’
The rock music manager called the X Factor a 'man's club' and claimed women on the show were paid less than men
SHARON Osbourne isn't expecting any congratulatory messages from old pal Simon Cowell now that her Celebrity Big Brother stint is complete.
The original reality star and former X Factor judge, 71, admitted the pair no longer had a relationship ahead of her lucrative five day stint in the house and branded him "weird".
4
4
4
She told The Sun: “He would not call Louis [Walsh] or I. He is very, what’s the word? Snotty. Simon just is.
"He has his little posse around him, the same people he’s had for years, and that’s who he talks to.
“He’s not really one of these guys who’ll be like, ‘Hey, great. You’ve given us a call. How are you doing? Yada, yada, yada’. He’s not one of those ‘checking in’ friends that see if you’re doing OK.
“We were, in the beginning, the three of us, really close friends. But then he kind of left our group and went on.
READ MORE ON SHARON OSBOURNE
“But no, he’s weird as far as friends go, very, very closed off.”
Sharon left the X Factor in 2017 acrimoniously following a third and final stint on the talent programme.
According to the Osbourne matriarch, Simon axed her from the competition because of her age.
She confessed to US chat show The Talk in 2019: "I was signed on to do another show at the time.
Most read in News TV
"I was signed to go to England and then Simon Cowell changed his mind and thought I was too old."
Sharon, who first appeared on the X Factor in 2004, further explained: "Simon goes, 'She’s old. We need somebody young.'
Psychic to the stars Sally Morgan predicts Celeb Big Brother star's downfall and reason behind Ekin-Su's 'game-playing'
"So if you want young, fire yourself and get rid of those man t**s. Call me tomorrow and we’ll discuss it."
Sharon also worked on the earlier seasons of America's Got Talent, which was Cowell's brain child, though they weren't on the panel together.
"It is a boys club, okay, it is, and the boys take care of each other, and the women are not paid as much as the men," she said of both The X Factor and AGT.
"Simon owns the show and the time I was there, Simon was never on the show.
"So when the show was doing 16 million, 14 million, Simon was never there."
Despite Sharon's bold claims, Simon went on to express an interest in working with his former panellist again.
The pop music mogul told : "I phoned her up the other day and said 'Look, I’ll be honest with you. How could I criticise you for being mouthy when it’s the reason I hired you in the first place?'
"Sharon gets a bit carried away but deep down she’s got real affection for the shows.
"There will be other versions of these shows, I am sure, and she is always welcome back.
"There’s absolutely no bad blood at all and as I said, when people think I’m annoyed with her, I’m not! She’s a good friend and always will be."
In response, Sharon told her The Talk co-hosts: "Well, we were never, for me, not, not friends. Because for me, it was business, not personal, and there’s a huge line.
"That’s what happens when you work with people that you like.
"You fall out business-wise but for me, I say what I feel at the time, and for me, it’s over."
Despite the truce, Sharon did not express any interest in maintaining a professional relationship with Simon.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Just because I said certain things about, and to, Simon, doesn’t mean I hate him forever, just for that second I don’t like him," the TV personality added.
"I never use the word hate when I talk about people. He’s okay, it’s just, I don’t want to work with him."
Listen to all of our CBB podcast episodes
Celebrity Big Brother line-up
So who are the 13 stars expected to appear in the Celebrity Big Brother house? The Sun's Jamie Downham takes a look...
Sharon Osbourne - TV legend - who is thought to be on a megabucks deal - said she was doing the show for "a good time not a long time"
Louis Walsh - Irish boyband manager who has never knowingly backed down from a fight. Sure to be a huge presence in the house.
Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu - We know from Love Island, the Ek-ster is not above throwing about some dramatics to claw her way to the final.
Levi Roots - Reggae Reggae Sauce sauce packs a bit of a kick, but its inventor seems quite mild-mannered. Will that change under pressure?
Fern Britton - The former This Morning star called out Phillip Schofield - don't think she won't do the same to anyone who tangles with her.
Colson Smith - You'll probably know him best as Corrie's Craig Tinker - but prepare to find out he's not much like his character.
David Potts - Ibiza Weekender's breakout star is sure to bring a bit of the party isle to the house... but will people appreciate it?
Gary Goldsmith - Kate Middleton's uncle is a big signing for ITV, but very much an unknown quantity among viewers.
Marisha Wallace - Top Broadway star may fill the brief of 'American who doesn't know what they've let themselves in for'.
Nikita Kuzmin - The Strictly pro is coming onto the show fresh off the show's tour. Poor lad probably just wants a rest.
Zeze Mills - the social media star has a "no holds barred interview style" - which is just what we need in there.
Bradley Riches - The actor played sweet James McEwan in Netflix hit Heartstopper. We'll soon find out what he's really like.
Lauren Simon - She's a Real Housewives of Cheshire star and you don't get on that show by being shy and retiring.
4
Topics