How much did Simon Cowell get offered to judge a couple having sex?

Forget judging 'America's Got Talent.'
Simon Cowell once got offered $150K to judge a random couple having sex — but the outspoken TV personality turned it down.
Cowell, 65, reminisced about the bizarre ordeal on Wednesday's episode of the 'How to Fail' podcast while addressing other odd offers he's been presented with over the years.
Advertisement
'People used to ask me to be rude to them,' the competition judge said, admitting he'd shut those requests down — but his refusals didn't stop there.
9 Simon Cowell revealed the bizarre offer he was presented with from a random couple.
YouTube/@HowToFailPodcast
9 The 'America's Got Talent' judge claimed the husband and wife promised to pay him $150K if he judged them having sex.
YouTube/@HowToFailPodcast
Advertisement
'Then, one time, I was in a restaurant and this guy comes up to me and he said, 'I love your show. Would you take a picture?' [I say], 'Sure,'' Cowell explained, revealing the stranger then introduced his wife and asked the 'American Idol' alum if he'd 'judge [them] having sex.'
He thought the couple was joking, but he quickly found out they were serious.
'I'm, like, 'Are you winding me up?' They went, 'No, we'll pay you,'' the star recalled.
9 Simon Cowell said he mulled over the proposal.
GC Images
Advertisement
9 The TV judge shared he ultimately turned the couple down.
AP
9 That's not the only odd request he's received from fans.
Getty Images
Cowell confessed that he marinated on the idea, especially when the couple told him how much they were willing to pay.
'[I said], 'Well, how much?' It was actually a lot of money. I thought, 'Do I? No, I just can't do it,'' he said of the moral dilemma before revealing they offered him a whopping $150K to watch them get down in the bedroom.
Advertisement
'It was just so bizarre,' he shared of their proposal.
9 He also spoke about his despise for small talk, revealing his fiancée is the queen of that subject.
FOX via Getty Images
9 Simon Cowell shares one son, Eric, 11, with Lauren Silverman.
Getty Images
Cowell explained that despite his mean TV persona, he actually enjoys random conversation with strangers — but only sometimes.
'That's something I really have enjoyed, though, weirdly. I am very shy, like, I can't go to a pre-party. It's my worst thing in the world, making small talk with someone I don't know. If we have a common subject, I'm pretty good, but years ago, if I had to go to a party … and had to talk to people, it [was] torture,' he stated on the podcast.
His fiancée, Lauren Silverman, however, is the professional of small talk, according to Cowell.
9 The 'X Factor UK' judge made headlines late last year when he reunited with One Direction at Liam Payne's funeral.
Getty Images
'Now, Lauren [Silverman, my fiancée] is brilliant in these positions. I'm hopeless. Joan Collins had a birthday party and I said to Lauren, 'I'll go, but we have to time it 'cause there will be a horrible stand-up, pre-drinks [that] I can't do,' he continued.
Advertisement
Cowell popped the question to Silverman in December 2021 after eight years of dating.
The couple shares one child, son Eric, who turned 11 in February on Valentine's Day.
9 Cowell said he was 'devastated,' 'heartbroken,' and 'empty' after Payne's death.
Getty Images
Cowell made headlines months ago when he broke his silence on Liam Payne's death after the One Direction alum's fatal fall off his hotel balcony in October.
Advertisement
'The X Factor UK' judge reunited with the boy group he created — including members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik — at Payne's funeral.
Following Payne's shocking death, Cowell released an emotional statement.
'You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,' he wrote on Instagram. 'Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

New York Post

3 hours ago

• New York Post

‘Spider-Man' and ‘One Life to Live' star Jack Betts dead at 96

Jack Betts has passed away at 96 years old. The actor starred on the soap opera 'One Life to Live' from 1979 to 1985, appearing in 20 episodes as Llanview Hospital's Dr. Ivan Kipling. Betts' nephew, Dean Sullivan, told The Hollywood Reporter that the star died in his sleep at his house in Los Osos, California, on Thursday. 7 Jack Betts at The Cocktail Hour play opening, LA, California, April 19, 1990. MediaPunch via Getty Images 7 Doris Roberts and Jack Betts arrive at the party celebrating the 200th Episode of 'Everybody Loves Raymond' on October 14, 2004 at Spago in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images Betts lived with 'Everybody Loves Raymond' actress Doris Roberts before her death at age 90 in 2016. The two would attend events together over the years and Roberts even directed a play written by Betts, about a soap opera, titled 'Screen Test: Take One.' The close pals first met in 1954 at The Actors Studio in New York City in 1954. Decades later, in 1988, Betts accepted Roberts' offer to move from the Big Apple into the downstairs apartment at her Hollywood Hills home. 7 Actor Jack Betts. Columbia Pictures 'We were best friends to the very end, we had wonderful times together,' he gushed following her death. Betts was also known for starring as Henry Balkan – the Oscorp board chair who fired Norman Osborn (Willem Defoe) – in Sam Raimi's 2002 'Spider-Man.' Norman then became the villainous Green Goblin and vaporized Henry and the board. While on 'The Dev Show' in 2020, Betts spoke about filming the Oscorp boardroom shot and how he asked Raimi, 65, if he could add some of his own spin onto the scene. 7 Jack Betts is seen on May 6, 2016. GC Images 'I really looked [Defoe] right in the eye, and I had kind of a smile in my eye — you know, like, 'You're fired, you motherf–ker,'' the actor explained. 'After, I finished it, [Raimi] said, 'That's it. Terrific. Print that one.'' 'My point being is that I wanted to add something just a little different to it instead of doing it the same way over and over and over and over. [Raimi] he was willing to do that. He really was. Wonderful man to work with.' The Hollywood vet was raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, before moving to Miami with his family at age 10. The actor received his degree in theater from the University of Miami, and shortly after graduation, relocated to New York to begin acting. 7 Jose Ferrer, Jack Betts in 'Another World.' Courtesy Everett Collection Betts landed his first role as a supporting actor in the 1953 Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Richard III.' For two seasons, from 1960 to 1962, Betts played detective Chris Devlin in the CBS mystery series 'Checkmate' opposite Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot and Doug McClure. The show, created by Eric Ambler, followed private detectives solving cases in San Francisco with the help of a British criminologist. Betts appeared four times on CBS' Perry Mason from 1961-66 before he met Giraldi about starring in Sugar Colt. He told the director that he could ride a horse and had just won a shooting contest — of course, he had never been on a horse or handled a gun — but he spent the next three weeks learning those skills at John Wayne's ranch before reporting for duty at Cinecittà in Rome. Shortly after, he entered the soap opera world, landing a role on 'General Hospital' from 1963 to 1965. 7 Jack Betts, Barbara Lord, Peter Falk in 'The Bloody Brood.' Courtesy Everett Collection From there, Betts made his mark on the franchises, and along with 'One Life to Live,' he had parts on 'The Edge of Night,' 'The Doctors,' 'Another World,' 'All My Children,' 'Search for Tomorrow,' 'Guiding Light,' 'Loving,' 'The Young and the Restless,' and 'Generations.' Some of Betts most memorable television roles included 'Seinfeld,' 'Frasier,' 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' 'Monk,' and 'Friends.' His last credited series was on the Freeform drama 'Good Trouble' in 2019. 7 Barbara Bain, Jack Betts in 'Silver Skies.' Courtesy Everett Collection When Betts stepped onto the spaghetti Western scene in 1966 as the title character Hunt Powers in Franco Giraldi's 'Sugar Colt,' he was able to turn that film into 15 others until 1973. But Betts didn't get the same credit as a certain fellow western star did. 'In the hotel next to mine was Clint Eastwood,' he recounted in a 2021 interview. 'He'd go up to his mountain and do his Western and I'd go up to my mountain and do my Western. But while his films had distribution all over the world, my films were distributed [everywhere] except Canada and America.' Betts is survived by his sister, Joan – who is set to turn 100 this year – nephew Dean, and nieces, Lynee and Gail.

USA Today

4 hours ago

• USA Today

Is Philly water ice the same as Italian ice? No, and here's why

Philly-style water ice makes a great 7th inning treat – Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith This article, originally published in June 2019, was updated in June 2025. Fans of the podcast "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce" recently discovered another 'uniquely Philly' passion of Kelce's: water ice. 'WTF is water ice? Are we talking about snow cones?' asked YouTube viewer @treysullivan9248. Kelce, like any true Philadelphian, aggressively but understandably, clarified: 'No, Trey! We are not talking about snow cones!' Advertisement Kelce — media personality, podcast host, and wife of retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce — went on to say that water ice is a Philadelphia summer staple that's basically frozen sugar water. "You can't go wrong with it,' she said. What is Philly-style water ice? Philly kids love their Philadelphia water ice – Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith Most similar to a fresh fruit slushie, water ice has been Philadelphia's favorite summer treat for generations. Each spring, as the weather starts to warm up and hint at summer, we celebrate with our favorite seasonal treat. Moms line up with their kids at their favorite water ice stands. Excited children study the freezer full of colorful tubs. One asks, "Can I have strawberry on the bottom and mango on top?' T​​he teenager behind the counter happily obliges, filling the bottom half of the ​​plastic cup with an icy strawberry mixture and topping it off with another pale-yellow scoop. Advertisement While Philadelphians have been enjoying water ice for generations, the consumption of ice and fruit combinations goes back a couple of thousand years to ancient Sicily (and can be traced even further back to Asia, Persia, and Mesopotamia). To beat the summer heat, according to food historian Liz Williams, ancient Sicilians devised creative means to both refresh and delight. Long before the invention of coolers and refrigeration, the people of Sicily were ingeniously experimenting with ice. Runners were sent up the almost 11,000-foot Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, to collect snow and ice that could be combined with lemons, limes, and other fresh fruits to create a cool and refreshing summer treat. Over the years, Sicilians mastered a method of storing the ice in caverns beneath the volcano before transporting it to other parts of Italy. As they did so, the practice of mixing ice and fruit, known as granita, spread throughout Italy. Different regions developed their own versions of the fruit and ice combination, as well as sorbets and gelato. Fast forward some 2,000 years to the early 1900s, at the peak of Italian immigration to the United States. Approximately 2 million Italians immigrated here at that time, the majority coming from Southern Italy with hopes of escaping the intense poverty back home. Advertisement Men and women looked for creative ways — like peddling granita — to make money while establishing themselves and seeking employment. Just as the different regions of Italy developed different versions of granita over the years, American cities with high concentrations of Italians, especially Sicilians, began developing their versions. How do you serve Philadelphia water ice? Traditional water ice (pronounced "wooder ice" with the local accent) is made with three simple ingredients: fresh fruit, sugar and water. While it was once made by hand, today the ingredients are combined in a metal, cylindrical machine. A mixer inside the metal barrel rotates and scrapes the edges as the mixture begins to freeze and stick to the walls. After reaching the correct consistency, the water ice is transferred into tubs and served up fresh. Where is Philadelphia water ice made? Enjoy a refreshing treat at John's Water Ice – Photo courtesy of Kae Lani Palmisano As water ice has grown in popularity, new stands and mass-produced water ice franchises have popped up. Kids especially love Rita's Water Ice, a chain now available in over 30 states. Two of Philadelphia's most beloved water ice stands are John's Water Ice and Pop's Homemade Water Ice. John Cardullo, founder of John's Water Ice, owned a diner in the heart of South Philly's Italian Market neighborhood and often served water ice as a dessert. In 1945, as the water ice grew in popularity, he decided to close the diner, turn it into office space for his heating repair company, and open a simple water ice stand next door. Advertisement The two seasonal businesses provided Cardullo with steady income in both winter and summer. John's Water Ice still operates out of this original location on Christian Street, with a second location in Huntingdon Valley. Filippo Italiano of Pop's Homemade Water Ice sold his homemade Italian water ice from a cart he pushed around the neighborhood. As word of his refreshing treat spread, children and families began lining up outside his garage waiting for him to open. Since he lived across the street from an urban park, Italiano realized he was well-known enough to quit lugging his heavy cart around in the heat and let people come to him instead. In 1932, he converted his garage into a storefront. Decades later, his grandchildren still serve water ice out of this same location. Advertisement If you're visiting Philadelphia, head over to one of the mom-and-pop stands where you know you'll be met with the tastiest and most authentic Philadelphia water ice experience. Just be prepared, as many are cash only. John's is easily walkable from the Liberty Bell and Center City, while Pop's is located right off the Broad Street Line subway, a perfect place to stop before or after a Phillies game.

New York Post

7 hours ago

• New York Post

Jennifer Aniston reveals the one thing that is still on her career ‘bucket list'

Rumor has it… Jennifer Aniston wants to head to the Big Apple. The actress, 56, revealed her next career goal, after being a Hollywood staple since rising to fame for playing Rachel Green on the sitcom 'Friends' from 1994 to 2004. 'I definitely want to do a Broadway play,' Aniston told People in an interview published Saturday. Advertisement 6 Jennifer Aniston speaks onstage during the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Getty Images 'That's on my bucket list,' the 'Murder Mystery' star added, 'but it's finding the time and finding the right piece, the right material.' Despite all of the factors that have to come together for Aniston to get to the Great White Way, she does see herself landing on the stage one day. Advertisement As she put it, 'I absolutely have to do a play on Broadway.' Aniston is no stranger to Hollywood and all of its facets, as both her parents, mom Nancy Dow and dad John Aniston, were actors. The 'Just Go with it' alum went to LaGuardia High School, also known as the 'Fame' school, in New York City, and acted in various Off-Broadway productions. 6 Jennifer Aniston in 'Horrible Bosses.' LM/ Advertisement Her first movie came in the form of the 1993 horror/comedy 'Leprechaun.' One year later, Aniston landed 'Friends' alongside Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. Looking back at all of the parts she played over the decades, the 'Cake' actress knows which one she would love to bring back for round three. 6 Jennifer Aniston in 'Friends.' NBCUniversal via Getty Images Advertisement 'Oh my God, this literally came up the other day: 'Horrible Bosses,'' she told the outlet. The 2011 comedy starred three friends, Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day, who plot to murder their awful bosses. 'Horrible Bosses 2' came out in 2014. 'Jason Bateman and I were talking about that, and Charlie Day has been talking about it a lot too,' Aniston added. 'So that's something that we think would be super fun.' 'The characters are hilarious, and we need comedy. I personally think comedy is a necessity,' she gushed. 'That's one that we would have a really fun time, I think, going back to, seeing where those crazy cats are today.' 6 Jennifer Aniston and Selena Gomez. jenniferaniston/Instagram Another leading man Aniston would love to get on-screen with is Pedro Pascal. In March, a source told People the two went out for 'a business dinner to get to know each other better.' 'Jen likes [Pedro's] energy and would love to work with him,' the insider added. Advertisement These days, Aniston is starring in the hit Apple TV+ series 'The Morning Show,' with Season 4 debuting on Sept. 17. The drama follows the challenges working in morning television brings. Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup and Jon Hamm star opposite Aniston. 6 'Friends' stars Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc. Instagram 6 Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston. Instagram Advertisement As for what fans can expect, the Emmy winner told People in January, 'Oh my gosh, it was hard. It was so hard.' Aniston went on, 'But it's a great season. It's jam-packed, that's for sure.'