Cowell denies insulting victims

POP mogul Simon Cowell yesterday denied being disrespectful to the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre.

The American Idol judge was caught on camera rolling his eyes and raising his eyebrows as one contestant paid tribute to them.

But Cowell dismissed the claims as rubbish. He said he could not hear the tribute and was criticising the young hopeful’s singing.

Chris Richardson of Chesapeake, Virginia, followed his performance by saying: “My hearts and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there ... be strong.”

The camera caught Cowell’s expression.

Cowell dismissed the claims of disrespect as “rubbish”, but on the next show he was forced to explain his actions. “I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I would never, ever, ever disrespect those families or those victims,” he said.