Since becoming a father to son Eric in 2014, paternal instincts may have mellowed the man usually known for being brutally honest, yet Cowell has his own take on this new, “kinder and gentler personality viewers are noticing. “I think I was edited badly years ago,” he laughed. “That’s the honest truth. Or maybe [it wasn’t] bad editing. I'd call it selective editing.”
“I love Simon and I love working with him,” raves fellow judge Mel B. “I'm just happy he's on the panel. I think he adds so much and from what people are telling me -- everyone from the public to my friends -- people are warming to him so much -- and I don’t think they expected him to be like this. I mean I did, because I know Simon, but I think his addition has taken [the show] to a whole new level. To me he’s the same. People have preconceived ideas of what he’s like, but to me he's been the same -- very honest, brutal and loyal. He's a great guy and he does have a heart of gold. I just hope he doesn’t get a big head.” (Mel B is pictured below, second from left, with fellow judges Howie Mandel, Cowell and Heidi Klum and "AGT" host Nick Cannon.)