Simon Cowell’s ‘Life Was 99 Percent Work’ Before Son Eric Switched It Around | “I Was Really Unhappy”

Editor's note: This article was originally published on November 23, 2022. It has since been updated.

Television personality and media mogul, Simon Cowell might have to flaunt a tough exterior when he is in front of the camera but the 63-year-old was "really unhappy" when the cameras stopped rolling. Cowell has created popular talent shows like America's Got Talent and The X Factor and boasts an influential career in both UK and US. He is the man behind the creation of notable music groups such as One Direction, Little Mix, and Fifth Harmony and has reigned in showbiz for over two decades.    

Working overtime on groundbreaking ideas and putting his career before family might have earned all his shows top ratings but Simon did not enjoy it, as per PEOPLE. The TV personality went on to explain his working hours at the height of his fame, claiming that he often worked till 4, 6, and occasionally 8 a.m. "I was really unhappy," he confessed.

However, his life changed for the better when his 45-year-old partner Lauren Silverman gave birth to their son Eric. Cowell had no option but to slow down his demanding career and spare his valuable time for his family as a first-time father. "I kept saying to Lauren, 'I don't think he likes me.' I wasn't getting a reaction. Then one day, it clicked,” he recalled, according to Billboard.

"Before Eric, my life was 99 percent work. I was obsessed with it," Simon admitted in the interview. "Now Eric is around, I don't work through the night anymore. If he hadn't come along, God knows what would have happened. I can't deal with the thought of it."

"When he was about 2, he finally asked, 'What are you doing in bed at 2 in the afternoon?' And how do you explain, 'These are my hours,' " Cowell said. "I thought, 'Okay, I've got to switch everything around.' " As per Hello Magazine, Simon's now 8-year-old son was born on Valentine’s Day in 2014 and was named after the celeb's father, Eric Selig Phillip Cowell.

The former American Idol alum explained how necessary it was to keep up with his son's energy and enthusiasm. "They're never tired. Ever," he said. He said how looking at the world through his son's eyes changed the way he thought about his own work. When Cowell makes notes on his own shows, his son joins him. "And I watch him, and if he's just not interested I think, 'That's not in the show' and if he's fixated on something, I think, 'That's definitely in the show.' Honestly, he's the best barometer," he explained.

According to PEOPLE, Eric also made a red carpet appearance with his mom and dad for America's Got Talent finale. Dressed up in a blue polo shirt, a pair of jeans, and Nike sneakers, he shared the spotlight with his famous father. Needless to say, Eric Cowell has played an integral part in helping his dad prioritize his family over work commitments and bring a balance between his personal and professional life.

Cowell and Eric will be working together on a series of picture books for kids about imaginary animals. In February 2020, the father-son duo announced that they had sealed a publishing deal with Hachette Children's Group for a seven-book series called Wishfits about these "magical and unusual" creatures, Deadline reported. "It's been brilliant," Cowell said of the project. "I never thought I would do something like this."

References:

https://people.com/parents/simon-cowell-says-son-eric-helped-him-find-balance-with-work/

https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/20220914151086/simon-cowell-son-eric-looks-just-like-him-so-grown-up-family-photo-agt/

https://people.com/parents/simon-cowell-son-eric-all-grown-up-americas-got-talent-finale/

https://www.billboard.com/culture/lifestyle/simon-cowell-engaged-lauren-silverman-1235018085/

https://deadline.com/2020/02/simon-cowell-wishfits-kids-books-hachette-1202866883/

Cover Photo Source: David Livingston/Getty Images