For those who tuned into the initial seasons of American Idol, Simon Cowell’s reputation for delivering brutally honest critiques was unforgettable. His sharp-tongued assessments became a hallmark of the show, propelling him to widespread fame.

Reflecting on those formative years, it appears that Cowell may be re-evaluating his approach. As he prepares to embark on a new venture with a fresh talent competition, the question arises: does he have any second thoughts about his past behavior?

Cowell’s reflections emerged during an insightful interview with The New York Times. In this extensive discussion, he opened up about his career’s early days, recalling the challenges he faced before establishing himself in the music industry.

Simon Admitted He Went Too Far With Feedback

Simon’s admission came in the form of a candid conversation with The New York Times. As Simon sat for a long-form interview with the outlet, he detailed the early start of his career, noting that he struggled to find stability before becoming a music executive.

At first, Simon was a bit evasive in talking about his blunt comments to those who would come to audition for American Idol. After a little more pressure from the journalist, however, Simon began to talk about how, these days, he felt “softer” than before, noting that things like losing Liam Payne and becoming a father had changed his perspective:

When the interviewer pressed Simon to explain what, exactly, he was apologizing for, he had a short response: “Well, just being a d***,” he said. “That was then. I’m not proud of it, let’s put it that way. I never look at this stuff online, so when I hear about these clips, I’m like, ‘Oh, God.’ But then again, the upside is that it made the shows really popular worldwide,” he added.

Simon Still Believes In Blunt Honesty

Though Simon may resent some of his behavior on TV over the past two decades, he didn’t completely backtrack on his ways. In fact, he noted that he still believed in giving direct feedback to contestants. He was clear to point out that he would never be caught giving “false hope” to someone he didn’t think had the necessary talent:

This approach from Simon will be coming into play shortly, as he has a new reality TV show coming out soon on Netflix called Simon Cowell: The Next Act. Throughout the season, Simon will be trying to scout musical talent with the hopes of putting together the next big boyband, following the likes of his previous success, One Direction.

via Instar, Simon Cowell/Instagram

Only time will tell if Simon finds success in putting the future group together.