Simon Cowell Apologizes to Cheryl Cole for 'X Factor'

Courtesy of Solarpix, PacificCoastNews.com

Like that makes it better

It's strange how so many of us sympathize with Cheryl Cole, even though she not very well-known in the States. I suppose she's more well-known now that she's been booted off the U.S. X Factor by Simon Cowell. Always the outspoken one, Cowell said his bit in an interview with The Sun.

Read: Cheryl Cole Gets $1.5 Mill for X Factor Gig

Simon was already blamed for Cheryl Cole's exit from the show, and he's taken responsibility for having her "exit" after not gelling with the American program. Nicole Scherzinger snapped up Cole's spot, and Simon Cowell says that he gave Cheryl Cole an exit strategy.

That exit strategy was reportedly the opportunity to re-join the UK crowd on X Factor, although the line-up has already been announced, and it doesn't include Cheryl Cole.

"The feeling was that she was slightly out of her comfort zone in America," Simon Cowell said.

"The intention was to do it quietly and say to her she had an option to rejoin the UK show. ... At the end of the day we were saying, 'Move to another show for even more money'. There was an offer of around £2.5 million on the table including bonuses. How is that [firing] someone?"

Read: Cheryl Cole Gets Kelly Osbourne's Pity

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Cole was still under contract in the States when she left the show, though, so her lawyers and managers returned to negotiate while Nicole Scherzinger's new gig was whispered about. Cole didn't close the deal and is said to be looking for fresh options in the United Kingdom.

"I embarrassed her. ... But the truth was I was protecting her. I just want people to be in the best place at the right time," Cowell added to The Sun.

I'm sure Cole will bounce back in her home country, and I think most people following the scandal here in the States feel sorry for her. Whether or not her Geordie accent that contributed to her ousting, it doesn't look like it was done in the best possible way. Shame on Simon.