Sinitta Opens Up About Her Relationship with Simon Cowell
Sinitta, the iconic singer known for her time on ITV’s talent shows, recently opened up about her complicated relationship with Simon Cowell on Friday’s I’m A Celebrity All Stars. The conversation was candid, revealing the reasons behind their on-off romance that spanned over two decades.
The pair first met in a London nightclub when Sinitta was just a teenager in the early 1980s. Despite their famously turbulent relationship, they remained close friends even after their split. Sinitta admitted that while it was challenging to get hold of Simon, their relationship ultimately ended because she felt “too needy and possessive.”
Simon is now engaged to Lauren Silverman, and they have a son named Eric, who is 12 years old. Sinitta shared some of her reflections with her campmates, saying, “He wasn’t a faithful boyfriend. He wouldn’t mind me saying it because he knows, and I was very possessive, but he kind of likes that.”
She also recounted an incident where she was burned on the shoulder with a cigarette during a club dance, as another woman tried to get to Simon. “Women act crazy about Simon, especially in American Idol,” she said. “I’ve been burned on the shoulder with a cigarette when we were dancing in the club because some woman, gorgeous, model sort of thing, was trying to get to him.”
Sinitta expressed her feelings about Simon, stating, “I feel like Simon loves me and cares about me, but it’s just, I think I romanticise everything.” She added, “And then you see him with his partner and his baby, well, he’s a big boy now, and it’s like, wow, OK, like everyone really does have their proper person.”
She reflected on how she believed they would eventually get married, saying, “I was the right person for a time, but they’ve just got this whole level of… that we didn’t have.” Sinitta admitted, “I think I was just too, probably too needy. I genuinely believed that we were gonna get married.”
Her marriage to ex-husband Andy Willner was described as a “revenge move” after her split from Simon. On the Suddenly Single podcast, she explained, “I was trying to make that relationship it. His narrative was just be patient, and you’ll have everything you want. I assumed everything I wanted meant a normal family life with him. And then he met the love of his life and had a child. Silly me.”
Sinitta later revealed that therapy helped her understand why she clung to Simon for so long. “Apart from my mother, he was the constant person in my life,” she said. “When I’m on tour and becoming famous and all of that, there was still him everywhere or him at the end of the phone. So I think I’d found a sort of security in that person.”
Controversy with Gemma Collins
Sinitta recently sparked controversy with a heated exchange with Gemma Collins during the I’m A Celebrity All Stars episode. The clash led to backlash from viewers, with many criticizing her comments. However, Sinitta insisted that the show had edited the footage, claiming that the conversation was not as harsh as it appeared.
In a lengthy social media post, Sinitta defended herself, stating, “Goodness! I know none of you have ever heard of me before because you are young, if you did you would know I’m a very kind person who would never be horrible to Gemma Collins or anyone else.”
She clarified that she did not call Gemma a joke, but rather thought the announcement of her casting in Chicago was a “joke at the time” because she was unaware of Gemma’s singing and dancing abilities. Sinitta also mentioned that she and Brenda Edwards had to step in to play the role again when Gemma withdrew due to an injury.
Sinitta emphasized that the conversation was amicable and that she gave Gemma a chance to explain her side. “Think about it… That is not rude, it’s called conversations. Why do people fear open conversations?” she asked.
A Long Career and Strong Personality
Sinitta has had a successful career spanning decades, working in TV, theatre, and film long before meeting Simon Cowell. She expressed her frustration with the editing of her conversation with Gemma, saying, “Maybe I’m too old school, but then I AM OLD and been working since the 80’s, I had a successful TV, theatre and film career before I even met Simon Cowell.”
