Simon Cowell pulls out as judge on “X Factor Israel”

Simon Cowell, British producer, reality TV judge, and creator of “The X Factor” and “Got Talent”, has canceled his scheduled appearance as a judge on the new season of Israel’s “The X Factor.
In December 2020, Cowell had been announced a judge on the fourth season of Israel’s X Factor, which will air this summer on Israeli TV channel Reshet 13.
“Over the years The X Factor format discovered amazing talents from all over the world, I can’t wait to see what Israel have to offer,” Cowell said at that time.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for Reshet, which produces “X Factor Israel,” told Variety that Cowell was canceling “for his own reasons.”
Reshet declined to say whether Cowell would have any part in the production of “X Factor Israel” outside of judging.
A Reshet representative told Variety, however, that members of Cowell’s staff had reached out with “legitimate concerns” over his participation in the show over Israel’s latest aggression on the Gaza Strip, in which at least 279 Palestinians were killed, including 69 children and 40 women, and 1,910 others injured.
19 families in the Gaza Strip have also been wiped off the population civil registry, including 45 children, after the Israeli bombardment on residential areas.
The Reshet representative told Variety that at the time Cowell had made no final decision.
Representatives for Cowell did not respond to multiple requests for comment, the Variety said.
A source close to Cowell has now confirmed to Jewish News, “Simon won’t be going to Israel after all. I know it has already been announced that he was one of the judges, but for a number of reasons he just can’t be there in Israel to film the show now. Of course he is bitterly disappointed – but it was a decision he had to take.”
There have also been concerns about the impact of a busy work schedule on Cowell’s health following a recent back injury and operation.