Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the 'America's Got Talent' judge is reported to have canceled his involvement on the the Israeli version of the show for his own reasons.
- May 31, 2021
AceShowbiz - Simon Cowell has stepped down as a judge on "The X Factor Israel" amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
It is not known if the TV and music mogul has quit for political reasons or if his decision has anything to do with his severe back injury, which forced him to sit out the "America's Got Talent" finals last year (2020).
Simon has returned for the new season of the U.S. show, which debuts this coming week (beginning May 31).
Cowell signed a deal to be one of the judges in the upcoming season of the Israeli version of the long-running competition series, which is set to film this summer, but he is backing out of the deal, according to Variety.
A spokesperson for the production company, Reshet, confirmed the news, saying he canceled "for his own reasons." The rep further claimed that the company "declined to say whether Cowell would have any part in the production" following his exit as judge.
A source close to Cowell claimed that the 61-year-old was upset over his inability to join the show. "Simon won't be going to Israel after all. I know it has already been announced that he was one of the judges, but for a number of reasons he just can't be there in Israel to film the show now," the source told Jewish News. "Of course he is bitterly disappointed but it was a decision he had to take."
An insider previously confirmed Cowell's aides had reached out with "legitimate concerns" over his participation in the show after the recent violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
