Always with a cigarette in hand – until a few months ago, Simon Cowell was not known any other way. But that has changed. Since a serious e-bike accident three years ago, the “Britain’s got Talent” judge has thought differently about health and well-being. When he fell, he broke his back in several places and was only a hair away from paraplegia.
“I was so close to spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair,” Cowell told The Sun, adding, “There’s that moment where something like this happens — a big accident — and you’re laying there and is completely helpless. It’s the worst feeling in the world”. Six surgeries and a metal rod in his back later, his view of life has finally turned 180 degrees. “It was painful at first,” he comments on the accident. Ultimately, however, the stroke of fate ended in a lesson that brought “good things” with it.
In the meantime, Cowell is doing better than ever. The day of the accident was a turning point for him, he says. From then on he finally put on the handbrake and took his health into his own hands. “Health is more important than anything else,” emphasizes the 63-year-old. The feeling of sudden helplessness made him realize that from now on he would like to take care of himself – in every respect.
“Years ago, I literally worked through the night. That was normal for me,” he says. He’s changed that since then. “Now it’s about 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. and that’s it. I’m not breaking that rule. And weekends are weekends,” the music producer points out. Instead, Cowell uses the free time for his son. As he says, the pandemic motivated him not to miss any more time with his nine-year-old son Eric.
“Being a father is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love every second I spend with him,” he says and continues: “Just two days ago I thought: ‘It would be nice to have another one.’ However, he does not reveal whether he wants to put this wish into practice.
Cowell has also changed in other areas. In order to support his healing process, he changed his diet and integrated more exercise into his everyday life. The juror lost 19 kilograms – a change that his fans also noticed. Recently, rumors circulated about Cowell’s cosmetic surgery after it appeared on a television show. “He looks like a hologram,” commented fans online.
In addition to an improved work-life balance and a healthier lifestyle, Cowell is also cutting back on cigarettes. A complete success for the 63-year-old, who – as he says – smoked 80 cigarettes a day until just a few years ago. In 2017, a fall down the stairs led Cowell to steadily reduce his cigarette consumption to two cigarettes a day. Until recently, he had not been able to completely give up tobacco. In the meantime, however, he has given up smoking completely and instead uses alternatives.
“I’m vaping now, so I’m not completely free yet, but I haven’t had a cigarette in about three or four weeks,” he reports. Here, too, the motivation of the music producer seems to be health-related. In March, he lost his voice as a result of laryngitis, and from then on he gave up cigarettes.
Cowell is currently back as a judge on the new season of Britain’s Got Talent, along with Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli.
Quelle: “The Sun”
