It seems as though 2012 hasn’t been the year of Simon Cowell — millions and millions of dollars aside. Not only has the realty mogul's relationship on the rocks, but he’s publicly slamming the winners of his shows and trying to give up his notorious addiction.
After proposing to longtime girlfriend Mezhgan Hussainy in February 2010, Cowell and her are reportedly on a break.
“It’s quite a complicated relationship,” Cowell told the Mirror. “We have had a break from each other and we are still incredibly close. I’m vulnerable. It’s not on, it’s not off, it’s somewhere in the middle. I don’t know if I will ever get married, but I am happy.”
The couple have known each other since 2003, when they met on the set of American Idol. Hussainy was working as a makeup artist, and Cowell didn’t vacate his judging chair on the show until after Season 9.
Cowell, who is known for keeping his personal life quiet, pulled a Tom Cruise after the initial engagement, gushing to Piers Morgan that he was “smitten.” Mind you, it was only in 2008 that Cowell split with his other longtime girlfriend, Terri Seymour, claiming he never wanted to get married.
Since the break, stress seems to be getting the better of the 52-year-old crank. Not only has he publicly thrown last year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai McDowall under the bus by saying he wasn't one of their best ones last year, but he is also bashing the talent his U.K. version of The X Factor attracted in its first season.
“We have good years and crappy years and there just wasn't enough raw talent and personality in this year's finals,” he told London Evening Standard, referring to girl-band winner Little Mix as “substandard.”
Perhaps all the crankiness also has something to do with the visit Cowell reportedly paid to an addiction clinic recently, trying to get his cigarette addiction under control.
Cowell smokes almost a pack a day, capping off at an average of 15 cigarettes a day. His rep told the Daily Mail that the host is looking to quit due to a history of bad health in his family thanks to the nicotine sticks. At the very least, Cowell’s new year’s resolution was to cut back after years of his mother and friends nagging him.
The host is currently working on the new season of Britain’s Got Talent.
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