LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Simon Cowell, prominent TV and music figure, has disclosed that his mental well-being suffered significantly during the global Covid-19 pandemic, leading him to seek therapy.
His concerns revolved around the possibility of contracting Covid-19 and transmitting it to his family. At the time, Cowell was in Los Angeles, anticipating a new season of 'Britain's Got Talent'.
However, the rapid global spread of the coronavirus prompted widespread panic and subsequent national lockdowns, reshaping life for the next couple of years.
Simon Cowell's mental health journey during pandemic
Cowell, 63, candidly acknowledged that his initial fear of the respiratory illness triggered a personal struggle with mental health.
Stranded in southern California with his partner, Lauren Silverman, and their young son, Eric, Cowell revealed that he had previously dealt with depression throughout his life, but viewed it as part of his personality to seek any professional help.
The Covid-19 pandemic, however, acted as a catalyst for more intense emotions. In the early stages, as close friends battled severe illness, he feared the same fate for himself, Eric, and Lauren.
The constant barrage of grim news headlines detailing the mounting death toll, overwhelmed hospitals, and the transformative impact on daily life only heightened his anxiety.
He spoke to the Daily Mirror: "I’ve suffered from depression over the years...but that was just something I just thought, Well, that’s my character trait. I get down, and it’s something you deal with."
"And then I suppose COVID was the real catalyst. In the very, very, very early stages, some friends of mine got really ill and I’m talking about really ill. So, I thought, God, if I catch this, maybe the same thing’s going to happen to me, Eric and Lauren."
He added, "I didn’t know what was true or not, I just didn’t have a clue other than I was petrified about catching it. Just petrified," admitting he tested himself "1,000 times during the pandemic".
After witnessing how friends had benefited from therapy, Cowell decided to take a similar path. He likened the experience to "taking your brain to the gym."
He recounted his first session and said: "I made the appointment and I sat down, really embarrassed and I said, Look, I just don’t know where to start."
"But within about 20 minutes it was as if I’d known him for 10, 20 years. He put me so much at ease. And you realise you’re talking to a professional and they don’t judge you, they listen to you."
Simon Cowell's vision for son Eric's future in entertainment
Currently, Cowell has resumed his role on the judging panel of 'America's Got Talent'. He hopes his nine-year-old son, Eric, will eventually follow in his footsteps, immersed in the world of entertainment.
Cowell, speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, said, "Trust me, he is in training. He sits and watches the shows with me before they go out and I don't ask him, but I look at his reaction because kids don't lie."
He continued, "If they are bored, they are bored and if they are interested in something, they are... And that's really helped me actually. I hope he does what I do."
While Cowell aspires for Eric to follow his path, it seems Eric himself is eager to step into the spotlight. Cowell said, "He said, 'Daddy, can I audition for you?' And I'm like, 'Oh, No!'"
He added, "He wants to be in a band. He likes Green Day. So, I'm like, We'll have this conversation later. He's going to do what he wants to do."
Cowell emphasized that his son would not be given preferential treatment if he auditions for him. Instead, Eric is assured of receiving the same rigorous critique that contributed to Cowell's renown as a prominent figure in talent judging on television programs.
He explained, "I've said to him, 'If you are not good, you are not going on the show. And that means you've got to rehearse. Sorry, you have to take a lot of lessons, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.'"
"He is like, 'Okay'. And then I think he lost interest, but I think he just, I don't know. He's just up for it for some reason. But if he's terrible, no, you won't see him on the show".
