Drudge also has the video, at the link…
There’s an follow up to this post here..Fans were enraged and FOX affiliates were fielding complaints late Tuesday after AMERICA IDOL judge Simon Cowell was caught on camera rolling his eyes after comments made by contestant Chris Richardson — comments about the tragic VIRGINIA TECH shootings!
“My heart and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. Be strong,” Richardson, a Chesapeake, Virginia native, told the audience of the nation’s top-rated TV show.
A quick camera shot showed Cowell rolling his eyes and impatiently tapping his hand on the table.
Backstage, contestant Chris Richardson was left stunned, calling Simon’s reaction “sad and hurtful,” a top production source told the DRUDGE REPORT.
Cowell’s flippant reaction came after he critiqued Richardson for a “nasally” performance of the Rascal Flatts song “Mayburry.”
But Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer of ‘IDOL’, says Simon was not reacting to Chris.
In a statement given exclusively to the DRUDGE REPORT, Lythgoe explains:”This is a sad time for everyone, so it is especially disheartening that a quick camera cutaway could have been misinterpreted. We’re sorry for any grief caused by this misunderstanding, but Simon was not reacting to Chris at that point. He had turned to speak to Paula and didn’t actually hear Chris’ final comments.”
April 18th, 2007 at 11:09 am
He should be hired just like Imus.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Can anyone please tell me how to evalute ones “rolling of eyes”. Maybe he was rolling them in discust at the shooter. What about Paula, was she nodding in approval of the shooting?
When we can evaluate a persons thoughts and feelings at the rolling of ones eyes then we have mastered everything.
Once again, our media is looking for controversy and blowing things out of proportion.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Time to get rid of Simon. Wonder when they are going to start interviewing
April 18th, 2007 at 11:43 am
I don’t think that Simon was disrespectful towards the Virginia Tech situation or the people affected by this tragedy. I just think it’s time for a replacement.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:44 am
He has gone to far, he disrepects everything and has no compassion for anything. He needs to be gone, enough is enough. If Imus can be fired, so can Simon Cowell. I often wonder if he has a full complement of body guards to protect him when he goes out in public? He is going to keep it up and some one is going to hurt him. I don’t watch the program because of him, if they got rid of him and put a decent judge in his place I might consider it. Then again maybe not, who wants to watch a drunk Paula Abdul. Not I that’s for sure.
April 18th, 2007 at 11:59 am
I watched the clip several times .I did not see any talking going on between Simon and Paula. I think the comments made later were simply an attempt at damage control. If he is allowed to continue at this level the show and any station that runs it will suffer. “Attitude” is only amusing for a brief moment….now its over.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
PEOPLE NEED TO STOP BLOWING THINGS OUT OF WACK!! HE WASNT ROLLINGHISEYES AT VT,HE DID IT AT CHRIS’ SH#$%^^Y SINGING………….HEY M.S.,PEOPLE LIKE YOU NEED TO LOSE THE NEGITIVITY…THATS WHATS WRONG WITH SOCIETY.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I saw him roll his eyes, but I think it was misunderstood. I think after his comments to Chris, Chris tried to use the Virginia Tech remark about having friends there to get sympathy votes. That’s what I think Simon was rolling his eyes at. If Simon is replaced the show would not be worth watching.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I’m doing another post about this in a few minutes…
April 18th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
It’s riduculous to say that Simon was insensitive to the Virginia Tech situation. I think that it was an insincere shot by Chris to interject his feelings about his friends in VA in the heat of the moment when he was being critiqued by Simon.
Clearly there was a lively discussion going on between Simon and Chris about his “nasally” performance which came on the heels of an exchange between Simon and Ryan about Sanjaya and that was not the time to expect a somber moment.
But hey Chris, nice way to get out of hearing the truth.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
I think Simon felt upstaged that this singer gave his condolences and they didnt. Thats why they made sure they said something later.I stopped watching that idiot Simon after the first season. The whole show is a joke just look how people keep voting for this Sanjaya loser cause Howard Stern told them too Goodbye Idol and SImon
April 18th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
I used to like Simon. I used to think he was funny, and although I didn’t always agree with his delivery, I usually agreed with what he said.
Whether he was reacting to Chris or not, what I felt and what I’m sure Chris felt when he saw Simon roll his eyes for the first time was deeply hurtful. To see the look on Chris’s face…I got tears in my eyes. I immediately changed my opinion to be of disgust for Simon.
Yes, he’s come out and said he was talking to Paula and that’s what he was rolling his eyes at. But he can’t change the way it looked, and he can’t change the way anyone felt when he did it.
Maybe he should listen to the contestants from now on and not talk to Paula when he shouldn’t be…
I think he owes Chris, the people at Virginia Tech, and the nation an apology.
April 18th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Simon did not wrong; the one who was using the American people for votes was Chris; he knew he sounded badly last night; so he was tring to get condolences from the america people; that we will remember him over his hearfelted response over Virgina Tec. Does he really know of anyone who attends Virgina Tech?
April 18th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Well Betty we know for sure that you were not a student there what with the way you phrased your reply
April 18th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Just before Chris mentioned Virginia Tech, he was somewhat arguing with Simon about being nasaly sounding during his song. Simon seemed a little perturbed with Chris. Then Chris blurted out his feelings for the Virginia Tech community ( which I feel the same, we need to keep them in our prayers). But with the sound system there, I believe Simon was still reacting to Chris’s arguing him. Simon did NOTHING
wrong, but Don Imas did!!!! Simon’s situation is no where near what Imas did.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Simon has gotten too big for his britches!! He is just insufferable. He rolled his eyes just as Chris was talking about Virginia Tech. Anything he says today is just an excuse. He is old enough to know better, he is just jealous he didnt say it first.
April 18th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I think is is going to far ,I watched the show over again because, I always record it.Simon was clearly talking to Chris and responding to Chris’s comments about being nasely to Paula .Chris was disrespecting Simons opinion and I think it caused a response from Simon and he did not catch the heart felt wishes Chris was forwarding to VT.I know Simon has his opinions which Randy and Paula always interupt but,you are wrong on this .I truly believe people are looking for anyone to acuse because all the tragedy and pain we feel..We always lash out if we are in pain causing us to look for someone else to blame.Simon I really hope you address this tonight .Please give all the contestants time to have a silent moment in respect to VT with you leading the moment of silence.
This is for the poor soul whom on this sight gave the disrespectful remarks may God be with you and each step you take .We all have parents ,grandchildren ,relatives and I know you must have some one somewhere.If this happened to you or your family we all pray God be with you.I am so saddened for people whom have no heart we can only pray for you.
Simon we love you and thank you for giving us something to look forward to .This season the singers are not as far along as they should be.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
If any of you saw the incident you would not have anything to discuss, I saw it as it happened and immediately knew there would be some brew ha ha today about it.. it happened just like fox described Simon was still thinkg about the last artist who said he sang his song nasaly on purpose,then they pan to chris making his comment and bam back to Simon who is in disgust of someone claiming to sing that way on purpose. That is how I saw it, that’s what they said happened, That is all, if you want to make it something you need more to do with yourself, donate blood , be a big brother, do something fulfilling and helpful in your community. I’m out.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I think Simon was rolling his eyes at what Chris was saying. I did too. Chris should not have said anything. He was just trying to drum up votes for himself by mentioning that he knew people at VT. It was very unappropriate seeing that Ryan Seacrest had already talked for the show. It was just a stage stint and I think Simon knew it like I knew it. It turned me off.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
PLEASE! The eyeroll was not aimed at V.T. or the comment by Chris. It was clearly in response to Chris’s nasal comment. Anyway - Simon is what we need more of….direct, honest, to the point. Remeber the days when you tried out for a team and not everyone made it…when you auditioned for a play or musical and were critiqued for performances and “didn’t make it”…or when you played a game and, well, someone would win and somone would lose.
Today’s world of “poor little so-in-so”, don’t be so hard on them, or let’s make enough prizes or teams for everyone, cause we don’t want anyone to lose or feel left out -BARF. Life’s lessons aren’t always easy and just because you choose to play them out on national television doesn’t mean an expert should be any less honest.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
I watched the show last night and saw what Simon did…he did roll his eyes after Chris made the comment about virgina tech….it is my opinion he was rolling his eyes at Chris’s comments and he should be ashamed of himself…..and I must say that this season of A.I. is by far the worst of the seasons yet. The only singer worth anything is Blake.
April 18th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Video Mashup of Simon eye roll and The O’Reilly Factor’s “Body Language” segment.
http://www.hotpotatomash.com/2007/04/mashup_american.html
April 18th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
I did not even notice Simon rolling his eyes. I did notice Chris’ bad singing performance. However, this is yet another media overkill about a news story. Yes, the Virginia Tech killings is tragic. But, Ryan Seacrest acknowledged the tragedy at the beginning of the show. Do you really think Ryan, or even Simon for that matter, is really praying about the situation?? Personally, Chris’ remark did seem self-serving. But, that’s just my opinion. Are the “correctness” police going to prevent my having an opinion in the future? We’ll see.
April 18th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I agree with Linda…………I watched it over and over again. With the sound system and Simon being Simon was upset that Chris found it necessary to comment back on the feedback that he was given him. I have seen such disrespect that “some” of the contestants have had this season and am very disappointed. Let it go!
April 18th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Simon Cowell is a pompous ass, so can we expect anything else of him but this?
April 18th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Hooray for Simon ,he always tells the truth.I could feel the heart felt word as they came from him.It almost made me cry.For those who misunderstood please come back and let Simon know you stand behind him.Thank you Simon!
April 18th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
How sad is a man when he can roll his eyes at someone leaving a message-even though he’s admitted that he sang “whatever” way?? This is not only another reason why I will never watch that show but EXACTLY why I will never watch the show. First you were a joke-now you’re just sad…