Simon Cowell 'very worried' about son Eric as he admits 'things are changing'

Edinburgh Live

2 days ago

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Music tycoon Simon Cowell has openly reflected on fatherhood in a heartfelt interview with This Morning's Jeff Brazier ahead of Father's Day. In the touching exchange, the 65 year old disclosed how fatherhood has transformed him and expressed worries about his 11 year old son's future.
Simon, who welcomed his sole child Eric in February 2014 with his partner Lauren Silverman, has generally maintained a private family life. Nonetheless, during a Britain's Got Talent episode in the 2024 series, viewers were treated to a surprise when Eric joined his father on stage for a memorable Golden Buzzer moment, pressing the iconic buzzer himself.
The series also shed light on Eric's budding interest in drumming, but Simon has now divulged further details about his young son to dad-of-two Jeff. The music impresario lovingly expressed how significant his son is to his life.
"Honestly, everything. Out of everything I've ever done in my life, this is the best thing to ever happen to me. The very first time I saw his scan, I was literally obsessed," he gushed.
Despite the joys, Simon acknowledged the challenges that come with raising a child in today's world, specifically surrounding the topic of technology. "We're getting to a point where the word phone comes up. 'Oh god, here we go,'" said Simon, who notably doesn't use a personal mobile phone, reports the Mirror.
Simon's concerns about children's access to mature content were evident as he spoke: "I'm very worried Jeff, about how much kids can see at a certain age. I grew up...Which was learning things at the right time, the right age, etcetera etcetera. I just would be petrified of him having access to anything, that would really worry me."
Simon continued, expressing his opinion on the pressures placed on children by schools: "I think schools put too much pressure on kids, which is, you're getting up at seven in the morning, you're coming home say at five, six in the afternoon, evening and then you've got to do two hours of homework."
He further elaborated: "It's like, they're ten, eleven, twelve years old. It's too much. I would say to any teacher watching, ban homework, you'll have happier kids and they'll do better."
Simon, known for being the 'tough' judge since his 2001 appearance on Pop Idol, has mellowed over the years. However, he revealed that his high standards apply even to Eric, his son.
In response to Jeff's inquiry about his approach if Eric were to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, Simon confessed that he would be "absolutely honest" with him.
Simon explained: "I've thought about this. What if he said to me, 'I want to be a singer' and he couldn't sing, I would be absolutely honest with him. If he couldn't, I would say, 'You know what, be a drummer,'" he joked.
However, it appears Eric has a hidden talent as Simon shared: "He actually can play the drums well but he's quite shy. You know, I walk and I hear him, and he stops. I say, 'Why are you stopping?' and he says, 'Well, I'm a bit embarrassed' and I say, 'Well don't be, you're really good."