LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'America's Got Talent' judge Simon Cowell recently had his nine-year-old son, Eric, in the audience during the show's Season 18 qualifier round.
While he is proud of Eric's talents, Cowell hopes his son will "never" become a contestant on the show.
"He's a good drummer," Cowell told People of his son, whom he shares with fiancee Lauren Silverman.
Coweel continued, "He really is. Thank God it wasn't violin, it was drums. And he's really good. I mean, he's in time. He's in rhythm. I keep saying to him, 'If you're good, never come on the show.'"
When questioned about the type of act he and Eric might perform if they were to take the stage together, Cowell acknowledged that he would likely "stand in the wings" while his son stole the show with his drumming skills.
Cowell said, "Oh God. I dread to think... I would be, I actually don't have any performing talent whatsoever, so it would have to be him. I would just stand in the wings."
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Cowell has previously commended Eric's growing talent. In August, he shared that the boy aspired to become a drummer in a rock band.
"He’s now decided he's going to audition for Britain's Got Talent. I think he wants to be in a rock band. He loves Green Day," he told ET at the time.
"That's going to be total torture," Cowell continued, joking. "I mean, of all the things I've ever done, this will probably be the hardest, because he does play drums. [He's] going to drum and sing! I went, 'Oh God, no.'"
Fans call Simon Cowell the 'ultimate hater'
People shared their reactions to the news on social media at the time.
One user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "We will be waiting for his debut." Another added, "I'm looking forward too."
"I would definitely love to see it," wrote a third, while a fourth quipped, "Let’s see if his son is good enough, if he is then no problem."
Meanwhile, some also commented on Cowell's reaction to the news about his son's audition.
"Bro is the Ultimate Hater, he even hates on his kids," wrote one, while another added, "Not hes being mean to his son before the audition already."
Cowell enjoys observing Eric and his friends getting "excited" while in the live show's audience. He said that his son had been attending these performances since he was "really young."
Cowell said, "He's a great barometer. I look over to look at him, 'Is he having a good time?' And he was having a really good time when he's up on his seat, excited. [It] is the best thing, because with kids, it's all unfiltered."
