Simon Cowell has experienced some health issues, particularly after being hurt in two separate bike accidents over the course of two years.
He discussed how those events affected his life when appearing on the most recent episode of the Today Show with hosts Terry Crews, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum as well as his fellow America’s Got Talent judges.
The 63-year-old TV celebrity suffered a similar fate on his bike in London in early 2022 after falling off it in Malibu in 2020 while riding an e-bike.
He was questioned about how the incidents affected his perspective on life as part of a promotion for the upcoming 18th season of the competition show.
“But I was so unfit before the accident,” he said, “so it wasn’t terrific, just terrible. And it wasn’t until I had to undertake all the follow-up work that I realized how unfit I was.”
“And I exclaim, ‘My god!’” Even though he insisted he wouldn’t be giving up his bike anytime soon, Simon continued, “Things like that, I believe happen for a reason.”
He responded, “I’m still going to stay on my bike, I’m obsessed with these things,” much to his co-stars’ delight.
Simon was rushed to the hospital with a probable concussion and a broken arm after the subsequent crash, which was less serious but nevertheless resulted in a fractured back. He was also seen for several weeks wearing a wrist brace.
Thanks to his fiancée Lauren Silverman, Simon was inspired by the events to adopt a generally healthier lifestyle, especially for the benefit of his nine-year-old son Eric.
When discussing the effects of his e-bike injuries with The Sun in April of last year, he said: “When I fractured my back, I considered therapy for the first time because I was very, very, very, low.”
“Because I didn’t know how to express it to Eric, I felt quite depressed. I was limited in what I could accomplish with him. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to play football with him or walk again.”
Simon and Lauren had Eric on Valentine’s Day in 2014, and the actor explained that after his bike accident the previous summer, his son came up with an amazing nickname for him.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge admitted to Entertainment Tonight that he was quite “embarrassed” after the incident when he returned home.
He now has metal rods and screws in his back from the procedure. Simon said that once the man returned to his family, “He said, ‘Dad, you look like Iron Man.’” “Yeah, I’m like Iron Man, yeah,” I said.”
Since then, Simon has been able to make fun of his mishaps as well, bringing up his first, more significant mishap in June 2021 while on AGT.
After watching a father-son team execute a risky Shaolin Kung Fu act, Terry questioned Simon in a family-focused audition show if he ever envisioned himself doing that with Eric.
Simon jokingly said to the pair, “I sort of got to the point after I fractured my back where I’m going around the garden with him, and I think it’s a huge deal. And while I do so, I think, “Maybe not so great!”