Simon Cowell, the renowned music mogul and television personality, has recently opened up about a dark period in his life that left him feeling “desperately unhappy.” In a candid interview, Cowell revealed that the deaths of his parents, Julie and Eric, sent him spiraling into a deep emotional abyss. However, it was the birth of his son Eric that ultimately saved him from this downward spiral, reigniting his passion for life and filling him with newfound happiness.
Cowell’s journey through this challenging time was marked by a profound sense of loss and emptiness. After losing both of his parents, he found himself consumed by a relentless work ethic, becoming what he described as a “ridiculous workaholic.” He would work through the night and sleep during the day, using his professional pursuits as a means of coping with the overwhelming grief and finality of his parents’ passing.
A Spiral of Despair
The music industry executive candidly shared that he had reached a point where “nothing mattered,” and even entertained thoughts where he felt that if something terrible happened, it “wouldn’t bother me.” This admission sheds light on the depths of his emotional turmoil and the toll that the loss of his parents had taken on his mental well-being.
“I think particularly when I lost my mum, I was on a downward spiral at that point,” Cowell confessed during an interview on “The Diary Of A CEO” podcast. “I lost everyone, you know, I’ve lost my parents. It’s finality now. What I said about the material things I’ve got, everything just meant nothing at that point.”
A Newfound Purpose
However, a transformative moment occurred when Cowell received the news that his fiancée, Lauren Silverman, was pregnant with their first child. “When I got the call from Lauren, which starts, any call that starts with, ‘Are you sitting down?’ You know what’s coming next. It was like, ‘Are you sitting down?’ ‘Yes,’ ‘Well,’ and she told me. And yes it did absolutely change, it changed everything in my life. It made me happy again,” Cowell shared.
The birth of his son Eric not only brought immense joy into Cowell’s life but also served as a lifeline, pulling him out of the depths of despair. “He without question saved me during a time when I really, really had reached the point where nothing mattered,” Cowell admitted, crediting his son with reigniting his passion for life and giving him a renewed sense of purpose.
A Father’s Pride
Today, Cowell cherishes every moment he spends with his son, finding immense joy in witnessing Eric’s unfiltered excitement and enthusiasm. During live tapings of “America’s Got Talent,” Cowell keeps a watchful eye on Eric, using his son’s reactions as a “barometer” to gauge the show’s success. “He’s a great barometer,” Cowell shared with PEOPLE last year. “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.”
Simon Cowell’s journey from the depths of despair to a newfound sense of purpose and happiness is a testament to the transformative power of parenthood and the unbreakable bonds of family. Through his son Eric, Cowell has not only found joy and fulfillment but also a reason to embrace life with renewed vigor and appreciation.