Brian Friedman threatens Simon Cowell he’s got plenty of ‘dirt’ on X Factor sacking – but he won’t spill until he’s on his death bed
Friday 12 Apr 2013 5:34 pm
EXCLUSIVE: Brian Friedman has threatened Simon Cowell he’s ready to spill the dirt on his short-lived stint as an X Factor judge, but admitted he’d take his spot on the judging panel back ‘in a heartbeat’.
The choreographer-to-the-stars made his threat to the X Factor boss after he was sacked after just one week on the panel and made the Creative Director instead, revealing it was ‘really devastating’.
He’s worked with the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson but says it’s Cowell who should watch out when it comes to spilling the beans.
Giving Metro a sneaky glimpse into what kind of dirt his future autobiography will reveal, he tells us: ‘Anyone who is around Michael Jackson, Simon Cowell, Justin Bieber or Britney Spears, you know they’ve got some gossip.
‘But oh my God, the chapter on The X Factor would be really juicy when it came to my judging,’ he teased. ‘Specifically being hired and my position being changed.’
He continued: ‘It all happened in such a short period of time. Being put on the show and all of a sudden being thrust into the spotlight in such a capacity and then having it all ripped away was really devastating so that would be really juicy.’
Despite being sacked so soon into his judging role in 2007, in which he replaced Louis Walsh, Brian wouldn’t have to think twice about taking up the job again.
‘If Simon offered me the spot back on the panel, I would take it in a heartbeat,’ he confessed, adding: ‘I think I would have to get him to sign something to say he wouldn’t fire me after one sitting,’ he said.
‘I was moved into a much harder position. If you’re mentoring you only have three or four of your acts for the season but I have to mentor all of them. It’s a big undertaking.’
Brian also admitted he has had long heart-to-hearts with former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, who was sacked from the US version of the show after two weeks which led to a bitter spat with Cowell.
He continued: ‘Cheryl and I see each other. We definitely reminisce!’
But the 35-year-old quickly added that he wouldn’t be making Cowell squirm any time soon: ‘This can only happen when I’m about to hit the grave. I want to live!’
Explaining the reason behind his cautiousness, he continued: ‘Let’s just say this. I have had a gag order placed on me before when I have said things. I have been threatened with law suits by very big celebrity names for saying little to nothing so I’m very, very wary of what I say.
‘But what I will say is if I’m about to hit my dying bed to the point where it will be okay if everyone hates me, something may come about because I have a lot of dirt.’
Brian is the creative director for the US X Factor now but he’ll be returning to the UK later this month with The Pulse, a touring dance masterclass giving dance hopefuls the chance to work with professionals.
