Simon Cowell is stepping away from “America’s Acquired Expertise” for a routine again surgical procedure, six years after he practically misplaced his means to stroll in a critical bike accident.
Kenan Thompson will fill in as a visitor choose on the present whereas Cowell recovers.
What occurred to Simon Cowell?
In August 2026, Cowell introduced he would step away from AGT season 21 to bear one other again surgical procedure. A rep for Cowell informed Leisure Weekly, “Clearly, medical issues are non-public, however it’s routine, and he will likely be again in just a few weeks.”
Cowell’s chair remained empty through the August 25 dwell present, with Howie Mandel, Sofia Vergara, and Mel B judging as a trio. No actual return date has been introduced. His newest surgical procedure comes six years after a critical bike accident left him with a damaged again.
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His 2020 bike accident
In August 2020, Cowell was at his Malibu dwelling testing a brand new electrical bike when he fell and broke his again, per Individuals. He shared on Instagram on the time, “Some good recommendation … If you happen to purchase an electrical path bike, learn the handbook earlier than you journey it for the primary time. I’ve damaged a part of my again. Thanks to everybody in your sort messages.”
Throughout a June 2021 look on The Kelly Clarkson Present, Cowell described how the accident occurred. “In a bizarre manner, it was type of meant to occur as a result of I used to be actually pushing my luck. I used to be shopping for these loopy, loopy bikes and this explicit bike I purchased had a lot energy, I used to be thrown about eight toes within the air, landed on my again,”he mentioned.
“I knew I would damaged my again in that second, and in some way managed to get again into my bed room,” Cowell continued. “I am mendacity in my mattress, and lined in blood, ready for the ambulance.”
Cowell underwent a five-hour surgical procedure to restore the injury, which included a number of spinal fusions and a steel rod. The accident occurred in the midst of AGT season 15, forcing Cowell to overlook the dwell reveals.
His restoration had extra setbacks alongside the best way, he skilled ache whereas enjoying soccer together with his son even after considering his bones had healed and in February 2022, he broke his arm falling off an e-bike in London, as per Individuals. Nonetheless, Cowell hasn’t stopped using e-bikes. He informed At present in 2023, “I am nonetheless gonna keep on my bike. I am obsessive about these items.”
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Who’s taking his place?
AGT confirmed on Instagram on August 28 that Kenan Thompson would be part of as a visitor choose for the third spherical of quarterfinals on September 1, sitting alongside Mandel, Vergara, and Mel B. This is not Thompson’s first time filling in for Cowell, he beforehand served as a visitor choose in August 2020 after Cowell’s bike accident, becoming a member of Mandel, Vergara, and then-judge Heidi Klum.
Thompson, 48, has been a Saturday Evening Stay solid member since 2003 and is the longest-tenured solid member within the present’s historical past.