Sinitta Opens Up About Her Long-Term Relationship with Simon Cowell
Sinitta, a South African star known for her music career and appearances on television, has shared insights into her past relationship with Simon Cowell. She revealed that their romance was not without its challenges, as she admitted that he “wasn’t a faithful boyfriend.”
For many years, Sinitta and Simon were more than just professional collaborators. Their connection began in the 1980s when Sinitta rose to fame, becoming the first artist Simon signed to his independent label, Fanfare Records. In the noughties, she frequently appeared on his ITV show, The X Factor, as a guest judge.
Despite their long-standing professional relationship, they also had a romantic one that lasted for several years. However, they now view each other as platonic friends. During an episode of I’m A Celebrity, Gemma Collins questioned Sinitta about her personal life, asking what it was like to date the Syco tycoon.
Revealing that they dated on and off for 40 years, the 62-year-old shared: “He wasn’t a faithful boyfriend. He won’t mind me saying it, because he knows, and I was very possessive.” She recalled how women would “act crazy” around Simon, even recounting an incident where a woman burnt a cigarette on her shoulder while they were dancing together in a club.
“I feel like Simon loves me and cares about me, but it’s just… I think I romanticise everything,” she explained. “And then you see him with his partner and his baby, well, he’s a big boy now, and it’s like, wow, okay, everyone really does have their proper person. I was the right person for a time, but they’ve just got this whole level that we didn’t have.”
Simon is currently engaged to Lauren Silverman, with whom he’s been in a relationship since 2013. The couple has a 12-year-old son named Eric.
Sinitta felt that she was “too needy” in their relationship, adding: “I genuinely believed that we were going to get married.” Following the I’m A Celebrity episode, the clip from this conversation was shared on the TV show’s Instagram account.
Given that the entire series (bar the live final) was pre-recorded last year, Sinitta shared a message in the comment section, admitting that it felt “sad” to see what she’d said about her romance with Simon.
“That did seem a little sad, loving someone who didn’t want me the same way for years, he thought he did, said so, but he didn’t! Many years of fun and achieving good things together,” she wrote. “We are both happy now, more like siblings, caring in a COMPLETELY UNROMANTIC way and have done for years now. Feels odd explaining this, but here it is! Sleep Tight. 😘🙏🏾.”
While Gemma and Sinitta seem to be more amicable now, they previously had a very awkward interaction while discussing the Towie star’s casting as Mama Morton in Chicago on the West End.
In a moment of shockingly brutal honesty, Sinitta admitted that she’d previously thought that Gemma’s casting in the musical was a joke. “Not a joke, Sinitta. I auditioned for it and got it fair and square. Did all the training, everything. Had the voice coach,” the reality star responded.
Gemma, who had to withdraw from the play due to an injury, was supported by fans of the show, with one called Joey writing: “Her coming for Gemma is nothing but vile.” “I’m not Gemma’s biggest fan but Sinitta basically calling her a clown was not on. Someone who can’t sing or has no talent doesn’t get casted in Chicago,” Aaron remarked.
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