Industry insiders say Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell have a frosty relationship, despite them having spent years on air with one another on American Idol. In a recent interview, Cowell shared he hasn’t followed Seacrest’s career and wasn’t sure why he was still popular, admitting that they “rarely talk now.” This might be surprising to fans of American Idol, but several sources say the tension between them has been brewing behind the scenes for years.
Seacrest and Cowell allegedly have a tense relationship
Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell are allegedly not as friendly as they might seem with another, according to several industry veterans speaking with entertainment reporter Rob Shuter on his Naughty But Nice Substack.
One source said, “Their energy has always been oil and water. People think it was playful TV banter — insiders know they just never liked each other.”
Another longtime insider suggested their relationship is merely a professional one. “This isn’t new. The two of them have never really clicked. They tolerated each other for the show, but that’s where it stopped.”
A part of the reason why they aren’t that friendly is that Cowell supposedly makes wisecracks at Seacrest’s expense, according to a third source. “Simon takes little digs. Ryan pretends he doesn’t notice. But he notices.”
“For twenty years, it’s been the same dance,” another insider agreed. “Simon can’t resist poking. Ryan avoids confrontation. And every few years, something sets it off again.”
That latest “something” has been the comments Cowell made about the Wheel of Fortune host in the aforementioned interview. As for how Seacrest reacted to his words, one source said, “It didn’t reopen an old wound — because the wound never fully closed.”
This is despite an interview Seacrest had with Ellen DeGeneres in 2017 where he said, “I miss Simon. He’s a lot of fun to work with.”
Seacrest is still the host of American Idol, which is returning for its 24th season on January 26, 2026 on ABC.
