During his tenure as a judge on talent shows such as American Idol, X Factor, and AGT, Simon Cowell was often dubbed «Mr. Annoying» for his blunt critiques and clashes with contestants. However, in recent years, there has been a noticeable softening in Simon’s demeanor. Viewers have witnessed him being moved by particularly poignant performances and touching stories, even shedding tears on multiple occasions.
Simon’s affection for dogs is well-known, and it’s no surprise that he was deeply moved by a BGT magic show featuring a former cop and his canine partner, Finn. The performance narrated how Finn saved Dave’s life, leading to an emotional moment where Simon was visibly in tears.
In another instance, a contestant performed «Jealousy» by Labyrinth, revealing the loss of his best friend a few years ago. Throughout the performance, Simon struggled to hold back tears. Cheryl’s emotional critique prompted Simon to quietly cry, eventually letting the contestants proceed to the polls without offering any critique. He walked away alone, visibly moved.
During an AGT semi-final, a young singer performed Ella Henderson’s «Yours» while her father battled colon cancer in the hospital. Post-performance, Simon commended her «beautiful» voice and emotionally added, «Your dad would be so proud of you,» with audible signs of choking up.
Simon awarded a Golden Buzzer to an AGT singer who worked as a pediatric mental health nurse and adopted five children. During her semi-final rendition of James Bay’s «Us,» Simon was so overwhelmed with emotion that he asked for a moment before sharing his thoughts, doing so with tears in his eyes.
In a recent X Factor: Celebrity finale, Simon couldn’t contain his emotions while watching the finalists perform a charity cover of Snow Patrol’s «Run,» a song benefiting a charity close to his heart. Simon was visibly moved to tears, rendering him momentarily speechless, and his partner Lauren Silverman rushed over to offer a comforting hug.
