Cowell regrets fan death but says ‘Idol’ will continue like always

Los Angeles, December 18: Simon Cowell, the stern judge of popular reality show ‘American Idol’, might have stayed indifferent to numerous controversies in the eight years of his association with the show, until the apparent suicide of former contestant Paula Godspeed left him wondering, if being blunt and forthright on the show is the right thing to do.

"I have thought long and hard about this...I think we will continue in the way we have always done. We have tried to have a sense of humor. The show is not an inherently mean show,” said Cowell during a telephone conference call. “It is an American dream show where the whole purpose is to find somebody who through the process becomes a star.”

Paula Goodspeed, 30, a fan of fellow ‘Idol’ judge Paula Abdul, allegedly killed herself in front of her house after she was ridiculed on trying in 2005. “You’re talking about a human tragedy,” Cowell said on being questioned about the incident. “It hit us like an express train. It upset me a lot.”

The British judge insists that hundreds of thousands of people, who audition every year, knew they would be criticized and they are a little prepared to take it.

When Goodspeed auditioned in 2005, she was laughed at by the judging panel and Cowell, who often scoffs at tone-deaf or eccentric performers. He commented on her braces and questioned how she could sing with "that much metal" in her mouth.

Goodspeed died of an overdose in a car outside Abdul's Los Angeles, igniting a debate regarding the cold attitude of judges on the show.

Cowell said he could not even collect who she was until he saw the TV clippings. “I saw the clips back on the news I remembered it.”

"What happened was awful,” he said of the suicide. “My regret is that we didn't know how troubled this person was. If I had gone back in time and known what she was going through, I wish we could have spent time trying to help her, but we genuinely didn't know."

He believes it is important to let the bad singers know that “it is time to give up that type of dream and take a normal job."

‘American Idol’ is set to return on January 13. This time, the producers have said, the focus will be kept off early auditions and bad singers and more importance would be given to talented performers when the show returns with its eighth season on the Fox network.

‘American Idol,’ in all the past seasons has seen guest appearances from big shots of the music industry including Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, Jon Bon Jovi and Bono.

Simon Cowll is yearning to have Britney Spears on the show this time. "I would love to see her mentor the contestants, but if she doesn't want to do that, and she wants to come on the show and perform, I would welcome her anytime," he said.