Simon Cowell has thrown his former ‘American Idol’ co-star Ryan Seacrest into the shade after admitting he doesn’t follow his career.
On Saturday’s episode of the New York Times podcast “The Interview,” the television personality was asked why he thinks Seacrest is “so popular.”
“I don’t actually know,” he said. “He was very, very ambitious. To be honest, I’m not interested in his career.”
“So I don’t know what he did or what he’s doing,” Cowell, 66, continued. “Now we hardly talk.
“I always knew about Ryan that he was very stubborn about his career and wanted to be famous. I mean this huge, huge desire to be very famous.”
However, the former ‘X Factor’ judge admitted Seacrest, 50, is “working hard”.
Despite Cowell’s statements, a representative for Cowell told Page Six that there was never a feud between Cowell and Seacrest.
A Seacrest representative did not immediately respond to Page Six for comment.
The two co-starred on American Idol from season 1 in 2002 until Cowell left after season 9 in 2010.
Seacrest served as the show’s host, and Cowell served as a judge along with Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
The co-stars particularly clashed in front of the cameras, such as when Cowell made comments about Seacrest’s sexuality in 2007.
According to TMZ, Seacrest asked Cowell at the time if he had any advice for performer Melinda Doolittle, who wears 4-inch heels.
“You should know, Ryan,” he replies, to which Seacrest claps back, “Stay out of my closet.”
“It’s coming out!” Cowell said.
However, according to an article today, the controversial remarks were reportedly scripted, along with several others.
“Simon and Ryan are really good friends off camera,” a source told the outlet. “When the show is traveling for auditions, the two of them go out for drinks or dinner…no real drama. It’s all for the cameras!”
That same year, Seacrest criticized Cowell for calling him “sweetheart” on air, telling a record company head, “Please don’t call me sweetheart. … We’re not in that kind of relationship. I don’t want that kind of relationship.”
And in 2010, Seacrest told Entertainment Weekly that Cowell was “very jealous” of him, saying, “From day one, he was jealous of my career at such a young age.”
However, Seacrest said in a 2010 interview on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” that he held no grudges between him and Cowell.
“We’re actually friendly,” he said. “We don’t hold a grudge. We have a very competitive spirit and attitude on the show, but we’re friends.”
The radio host also appeared on DeGeneres’ show in 2017 and described Cowell as “always funny,” according to Entertainment Tonight.
