EXCLUSIVE: Simon Cowell 'Death' Rumors Explode — Music Mogul Sparks Fears He's 'Nearing the End' After Bizarre Video 'Showed Unmistakeable Signs He's Had a Stroke'
Simon Cowell was believed to have suffered a 'stroke,' according to insiders.
Sept. 29 2025, Published 5:00 p.m. ET
Simon Cowell has sparked wild speculation about his health after a viral clip of the television mogul clapping awkwardly on The Jennifer Hudson Show left viewers fearing he may be "nearing the end," RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The 65-year-old X Factor judge was filmed walking through the program's "spirit tunnel," a backstage corridor where crew members serenade guests before they take to the stage. Dressed in his trademark black t-shirt and jeans, Cowell smiled through the performance, but it was his stiff walk and unusual clapping style that set social media ablaze.
What Is Going On With Simon Cowell?
Cowell's appearance on'The Jennifer Hudson Show' sparked concern for his health.
Comments ranged from jokes about him looking like he was "standing up for the first time" to more serious claims that his movements bore the signs of a stroke.
One insider told us: "People who care about Simon are rattled by how he looked in that video. They've started whispering about whether this could be the beginning of the end for him. His clapping and the way he moved had a lot of fans genuinely convinced something was seriously wrong."
Another source said: "Simon has always joked about aging and cosmetic work, but this time people aren't laughing. They fear his health is in decline, and the video only reinforced those concerns. He’s had a rough few years with accidents, and his friends worry it's catching up to him."
Cowell himself downplayed the incident, insisting his awkward demeanor reflected shyness rather than illness. "I am very shy," he told Hudson. "I can't go to a pre-party. It's my worst thing in the world, making small talk with people I don't know. If we have a common subject, I'm pretty good, but years ago, if I had to go to a party, particularly if we had to stand up with a drink, with horrible food, and just talk to people you don't know – it's torture.”
Simon Cowell's Injury Past
Despite his discomfort, he admitted to enjoying the tunnel experience.
"It is seriously the best way of coming onto a show," Cowell said, even joking he might borrow the idea for America's Got Talent. Fans, however, could not ignore his changing appearance.
Cowell has spoken openly about Botox and fillers but denies ever having a facelift. His supporters rushed to defend him online, pointing out his history of serious injuries.
The TV personality has suffered several injuries in the past.
In 2020, he broke his back in multiple places after falling from an e-bike at his Malibu home, narrowly avoiding paralysis. He underwent six hours of surgery and had a metal rod inserted into his spine.
Two years later, he suffered another bike crash, breaking his arm after going over the handlebars without a helmet. At the time, sources close to him said he was "lucky to be alive."
Cowell has insisted cycling remains central to his lifestyle. "My most creative time is now when I cycle," he said in a past interview. "That expression 'Get back on your bike' – with me, it was literal.
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Some have suggested the star suffered a secret stroke.
"I feel better than I did because I exercise so much more. Honestly, if I could rewind, I would have gone through the whole thing again. "Just because I feel better now, even though it hurt like hell at the time."
But a source told us: "The way he and his face move – and doesn't move in places – suggests he has had a stroke. He can barely walk properly, smile properly, or clap properly. He's a mess."
