Topics: Phones, Simon Cowell, Social Media, Technology, TikTok, Celebrity
Simon Cowell might be all up to date with the latest music, but the record exec has revealed that he's not totally tech savvy.
In fact, while many of us watch his antics unfold in TikTok or Instagram videos, Cowell couldn't even so much as open up the apps while out and about.
It's not because he doesn't know how to - instead, it's because he simply doesn't have a cell phone.
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Cowell shared his decision when he sat down for an interview with Capital XTRA Breakfast hosts with Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie, where he discussed his mission to track down the nation's next big boyband.
During the conversation, Bruce asked Cowell whether he had a cell phone and the America's Got Talent host responded: "No."
“In 2024?" Bruce responded, shocked, adding: “You do not have a mobile phone?”
Cowell only doubled down on his answer as he repeated 'no', prompting Bruce to ask: "How come?"
You might expect the entrepreneur to have a smart, savvy, or even just wholesome reason for going without a cell phone.
Perhaps because he doesn't want to get flooded with calls when he's trying to have time to himself? Or maybe he doesn't want to fall victim to the rabbit holes of social media?
They'd both be valid reasons, but Cowell's actual explanation is much more bizarre.
He explained: "Because it’s like walking around with a toaster. In other words, they’re boring. Or an iron."
I'm not sure what kind of toaster or iron Cowell has, but I think I might want one.
Marie responded to clarify, asking: "Like a meaningless object?"
"Yeah," Cowell said. "It’s a thing, you know, which you use at home."
When asked how he'd check TikTok, Cowell responded to say he'd 'go home'. He didn't expand on whether he'd be using a laptop to sign in to the app, or whether he did have a cell phone, but it was limited to the confines of his property.
Marie continued: "So like, when you’re out, you don’t need people to call you? Or like, you’re checking your maps, or you know, City Mapper? Or an Uber?”
“Nope," Cowell responded.
The exec went on to say he lives in 'kind of a bubble', saying it's like 'sort of not knowing what is ever happening unless it’s important'.
“Oh, your life is nice," Marie responded.
Cowell encouraged others to give the cell phone-less life a go, encouraging people to just 'do it for a month'.
Bruce didn't sound convinced, but he did say that Cowell's words had had an effect.
“Every time I get my phone out of my pocket I’m going to think of a toaster now,” he said.
