British producer and television personality Simon Cowell will no longer appear as a judge in the forthcoming ‘X Factor Israel’ season four, which he had signed on to film this summer. As per sources, the reality TV judge has pulled out of the judging panel, following the escalating violence and Palestine vs. Israel issue.
Going back to December 2020, renowned personality Simon Cowell, who introduced the original version of ‘The X Factor’ in Britain, had announced his scheduled appearance as a judge on the fourth installment of ‘X Factor Israel.’ At the time, Cowell has stated, he could “barely wait to see what the Israelis have to offer.”
Moreover, Simon Cowell’s team had also assisted the local show select judges for the new season. Hence, X factor Israel season four, was to commence filming this year.
The judging panel, aside of Simon, had comprised of Israeli singer and former Eurovision Song Contest winner Netta Barzilai, alongside other Israeli singers Aviv Geffen, Ran Danker, Miri Mesika, and Margalit Tzanani.
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However, when the reality show was about to kick in, Simon Cowell, who is currently appearing as a judge on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent,’ has backed off from the deal.
On Sunday, a spokesperson for Rashet, which produces the ‘X Factor Israel’, confirmed the news, saying that Cowell was canceling “for his own reasons.”
Furthermore, rumors of Cowell retreating was of the show had surfaced last week, in the wake of renewed violence in the region between Israel and Hamas. Simon Cowell has not commented on the matter. However, a Jewish News report last week quoted a source close to Cowell, as saying that the media mogul was “bitterly disappointed” and he could not take part in the reality show for “a number of reasons.”
The new season of X factor Israel is set to air on Israeli TV channel Reshet 13 later this year. The new season is set to air on Israeli TV channel Reshet 13 later this year. Also, the reality show will, for the first time this year, select Israel’s entry for the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, slated to be held in Italy.
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