Inside Simon Cowell's Health Struggles

When TV personality Simon Cowell temporarily traded his America's Got Talent judge's chair for the seat of his new electric bike, he likely thought he was in for some fun. But as his rep told People in August 2020, Cowell took an unexpected tumble and broke his back — literally. Apparently, while testing out the new vehicle at his Malibu home, Cowell lost control and landed himself in the hospital. He underwent surgery and is now "under observation and is in the best possible hands."

"Simon had surgery overnight and is doing okay this morning. It was a five-hour surgery and he has had to have a number of fusions and metal rod put into his back," an inside source added. "He landed on his back when he fell from the bike. The injuries are bad but he's also been told he was lucky."

Cowell also took to social media to address his accident. "Some good advice... If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time," he wrote on Instagram. "I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages. And a massive thank you to all the nurses and doctors. Some of the nicest people I have ever met." While the true severity of his injuries hasn't been made public, Cowell appears to be in fine spirits after his successful procedure.

But, of course, this isn't the first time the universe urged Cowell to slow his pace.

If you think television star Simon Cowell has always seemed like the type who never rests, you would be right. Or at least that was the case. You see, Cowell collapsed at his home when he ventured down to his kitchen for a glass of warm milk in October 2017. Before Cowell could fetch his drink, the music mogul became lightheaded and passed out, causing him to fall down the stairs at his London mansion, as Express reported in 2018.

Cowell claimed his collapse was caused by low blood pressure brought on by the stress of his fast-paced lifestyle, and that despite the initial scare, this event put his priorities into perspective. "It has changed me," he explained. "The crazy late nights working, [now] no more late nights — and I'm getting up earlier. I feel a million times better, genuinely. You reach a point and you go, 'What's all this for?' You don't want to kill yourself working."

Instead, Cowell found himself wanting to "live forever now" because he wishes to see the world through his son Eric's eyes. "I want it to be uncomplicated, I want it to be fun because he is fun," Cowell told Express. "I'm OK now," he added. "In a way, it was a wake-up call. It wasn't the end of the world — but a bit embarrassing." He has since reduced weekly meetings and practically eliminated late-night calls in the pursuit of work-life balance.

After his collapse, America's Got Talent judge Simon Cowell knew he had to change his lifestyle. With his son looking to him for guidance, Cowell recognized that his past behaviors would never help him secure the future life he longed to lead. Thus, Cowell altered his daily routines to facilitate his new end goal. But in doing so, Cowell's appearance began to change rather drastically. While plastic surgeons believe he's undergone multiple cosmetic procedures, Cowell quelled fans' concerns when he explained his dramatic weight loss was the result of his clean-eating habits.

While on the red carpet, Extra's Terri Seymour noted (via Hello!), "Everybody has been commenting about the new, leaner you, what do you think about all the comments, how are you feeling?" to which he replied, "Not enough [comments], I need more." Cowell continued, "I feel a lot better for it, that's the most important thing."

Cowell explained that a specialist advised him to eliminate red meat, dairy, sugar, bread, and gluten from his diet, and he's also begun to actively reduce his alcohol intake. However, the AGT judge admitted that he gets most of his food inspiration from his son. "Apart from ice cream, he actually likes water and eats all his raw vegetables," he added. "I'm on the Eric Cowell diet." After all, Eric was the main factor behind Cowell's desire to change, so it's only fitting he now leads the charge toward his dad's healthier lifestyle.

With this new lease on life in place, former American Idol judge Simon Cowell has permanently changed his daily diet. His collapse — which was likely brought on by low blood pressure — served as his "reminder that we're not invincible," so Cowell made some immediate dietary changes that led to his 20-pound weight loss. For instance, Cowell completely eliminated comfort foods. "That's all I've eaten all my life," he told The Sun. "I love jam tarts, hamburgers, spaghetti Bolognese." Cowell also said that, while he continued to eat fish at first, he's since gone entirely vegan.

Cowell added that he "cut out a lot of the stuff [he] shouldn't have been eating" and that it's "way easier than you may think." "I can eat certain fruits, but not all fruits. You have to be careful because some fruit can have more sugar than a can of Coke," he added. "Once you get into a pattern, I've found it quite enjoyable. It has helped me sleep and I wake up feeling less tired. I noticed a massive difference in how I felt in about a week."

And while son Eric's habits rubbed off on him, it seems Cowell's new routine sparked a change in partner Lauren Silverman's lifestyle, too. "She's not going to sit there and eat a pizza in front of me," he added. "That would be cruel. She's kind of gone the same way as me." It's a family affair!