LOS ANGELES – Simon Cowell underwent surgery to repair a broken back, the result of an electric bicycle accident, and was recovered in a hospital, a spokesman said Sunday.
“Simon has broken his back in a number of places” after the fall of the new bike he had tested in the courtyard of his Malibu home on Saturday, the representative said. Family members were present.
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The entertainment mogul was “well done” and remained under observation after the operation in an unidentified hospital, the spokesman said. Cowell’s partner, Lauren Silverman, accompanied him to the hospital and was able to see him briefly. Cowell’s overnight, six-hour operation involved the placement of a metal rod.
Despite the assessment, he needed the power to place a “massive tank” on doctors and nurses treating him. Cowell, known for his tart-tongue remarks about participants, also shared some advice.
“If you are buying an electric trail bike, read the manual before riding it for the first time,” he tweeted Sunday night.
The couple’s son and Silverman’s child through a previous marriage were with Cowell when the accident happened. Cowell’s injury will force him to miss the start of this season’s live shows on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’. The live shows will begin Tuesday and Wednesday without him, the network said.
He created the talent show, now in its 15th season, and serves as a judge. The other judges of the show are Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara, with Terry Crews as hosts.
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Cowell has also been a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent,” “The X Factor” and “American Idol.”
