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Cowell says Cheryl "was like Princess Diana"

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Cowell talked about his dramatic choice to drop Cheryl Cole from the US version of X Factor earlier this year.

As Cheryl flew over to Los Angeles to pose for photos with her fellow judges and prepare for her new stint as judge on the American version of the hit television talent show, Cowell sensationally axed her in favour of Pussycat Dolls’ lead singer Nicole Sherzinger who was due to be co-host with Brit Steve Jones.

Speaking about the extent of Cheryl’s British fame, he said: “She was like Princess Diana when she would walk out in England.”

Cowell says he had to tell the singer “to up her game” as he knew that she would struggle winning over the American audience. She was used to being well known in Britain for both her singing career and as X Factor judge, but he understood that in America they simply didn’t know who she was (or understand her accent).

He said: “I accepted the fact that people didn’t know her here, but I think it did have an affect on her” when asked about the pressure that the judge faced as she joined the American judging panel.

He states that he gave Cheryl the chance to have her old judging position on the British version of the X Factor back, but had to go through her manager Will.I.Am instead of speaking to the star directly.

Simon asked the Black Eyed Pea’s star: “How does she feel about it?” about having her old job back, to which he received the blunt response of “It’s none of your concern.”

Cowell went on to say: "Then I got nervous. I called back to tell him: “I don’t care what you say; if she wants to come back, she’s got the gig. But if I don’t hear from her by Sunday, the deal’s off.”

“I never heard from her. That was it. I think her silence was quite damning.”

Ouch!

By Rebecca Crutchley