Overview
- Cowell publicly acknowledged this week that he and other judges behaved “awful” and “horrible” when Susan Boyle walked on stage in 2009 and said their off-camera conduct was even worse than what viewers saw.
- Cowell told interviewers he at first thought Boyle was a comedian after seeing her in the wings and later said she “did more good for our show than probably any other contestant.”
- Boyle, who suffered a stroke that affected her speech and singing, has had extensive speech therapy and vocal lessons and says her voice still needs work as she takes “baby steps” in recovery.
- She has re-engaged publicly with a social-media relaunch, studio photos and a commercial collaboration that reworks a Cornetto jingle rather than a traditional album release.
- Boyle’s 2009 audition is credited with changing the Got Talent format and driving large commercial returns, and Cowell’s remarks have refocused attention on how TV judges’ early conduct shaped contestants’ lives and public perception.