Simon Cowell Says Having a Baby Changed His TV Judging Style
The judge, known for his biting comments, said having a baby has softened him.
— -- Simon Cowell made a name for himself on American TV thanks to his no-holds-barred judging style on some of our favorite shows.
Still, the former "American Idol" judge said thanks to his 2-year-old son he's softened up.
Cowell told People magazine that "there's no question when you actually have a kid, it does make you feel different because you understand how you would feel if it was your son up there."
Cowell, 56, and his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, welcomed a son named Eric in 2014.
The British recording executive -- who has served as a judged on "American Idol," "The X Factor" and now "America's Got Talent" -- said he really wasn't that negative when it came to judging singing competition hopefuls.
"I think 'X Factor' and 'Idol' were edited so that I was always seen as this bad-tempered, miserable whatever -- which of course I am at times," he admitted, "but I'm not like that the whole day!"
He added: "But on 'AGT' there are so many feel-good moments that they show those more than me ripping people to pieces because they are rubbish."
So, will Cowell's son Eric grow up to be a biting critic like his dad? Maybe, Cowell said.
"He's exactly like me when I was younger, he's so cheeky, and he knows how to get me wrapped around his little finger," he explained. "When it's time to go to bed, the bottom lip comes out and it's like, 'Just one more minute, just one more minute, I want to watch 'Toy Story!' I want to read a story!'"