Over the last two years, Simon Cowell has faced two major bike accidents, each one bringing serious health challenges. Recently, he joined his America’s Got Talent family—Howie Mandel, Terry Crews, and Heidi Klum—on the Today Show to talk openly about these incidents.
At 64, Simon’s life has been full of twists and turns, but nothing could have prepared him for what happened in 2020. He was riding his e-bike in Malibu when he had his first accident. Then, just when things were getting back to normal, a similar accident happened in London in early 2022.
Both accidents left him with lasting impacts, but instead of letting them defeat him, Simon saw them as wake-up calls. In a promo for America’s Got Talent’s 18th season, he opened up about how those experiences had changed him. “I wasn’t in great shape beforehand, so the accidents were a rude awakening,” he admitted. Recovering from each accident was tough, but it made him realize how much he needed to take care of himself.
He described these incidents as a sort of “god moment,” a way of telling him to slow down and think about his health. But despite these wake-up calls, Simon couldn’t give up one thing he loved. With a smile, he added, “I’m not giving up on my bike.” His fellow judges laughed, seeing how much cycling meant to him.
The second accident wasn’t as severe as the first, but it still left him with a concussion and a broken arm, and he had to wear a wrist brace for months. The first accident had been even worse—it resulted in a broken back, requiring metal rods to stabilize his spine. But even with these challenges, Simon was determined to stay strong, especially for his nine-year-old son, Eric.
These accidents were a reminder of how much he wanted to be there for his son and make lasting changes to his lifestyle. Throughout his recovery, his fiancée, Lauren Silverman, stayed by his side, providing vital support.
In an interview with The Sun in April, Simon shared just how much his back injury had affected him emotionally. “I was in such a dark place that, for the first time, I considered going to therapy,” he revealed. He wanted to stay active for Eric but found it challenging while going through such a long recovery process.
Simon and Lauren welcomed Eric into their lives on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2014. His love for Eric was his driving force during recovery, pushing him to keep going. He even shared a sweet moment between them that still makes him smile.
When Eric saw him with the metal rods in his back, he grinned and said, “Dad, you look like Iron Man.” Simon laughed and replied, “Yes, I really am like Iron Man.” It was moments like these that helped him keep his spirits up, even on the hardest days.
Despite everything, Simon’s sense of humor has never faded. During a 2021 episode of America’s Got Talent, Terry Crews playfully asked if Simon would ever try stunts like those of the Shaolin Kung Fu act they had just seen. Simon chuckled, remembering how challenging it was just to walk around the garden with Eric after his back injury. “Just walking around the garden with Eric felt like a big feat,” he joked. “Sometimes I even thought, ‘Maybe this isn’t the best idea.’”
Simon’s journey is one of resilience, humor, and love for life. Even though the accidents were tough, he has stayed strong, finding joy in his son, his work, and, of course, his bike. He’s a reminder that setbacks don’t have to hold us back—they can push us forward, even when the path gets rough.
What do you think about Simon’s journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
