The man who wrote Simon Cowell’s unauthorised biography has slammed Cheryl Cole as “not very intelligent”.
Tom Bower - who penned the book, which includes a series of controversial claims about Cowell’s private life – said he felt Cheryl Cole “wasn’t working” during her time on the American version of X Factor.
Talking to Metro, Bower is quoted saying: "I was sitting next to Simon the whole time during The X Factor US last year and I immediately knew that Cheryl Cole wasn't working.
"I'd sit with Cheryl at mealtimes and, in my opinion, her real problem is she's not very intelligent."
Cheryl joined X Factor USA after quitting the UK version of the show, but was axed after just a few weeks on the programme.
Tom also took a pop at former X Factor USA host Steve Jones, slamming his presenting style.
He continued: "I flew with him (Simon) from LA to New York and even before that he'd asked me what I thought about her and I'd said, 'She's not working and Steve Jones is even worse'," Bower added. "He was determined to make it work, but I had my doubts."
Excerpts from Tom’s book, Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell, have been leaked in recent weeks, with claims including Simon allegedly sleeping with Dannii Minogue and being keen to bed Cheryl hitting the headlines.
The book also contains claims about Cowell’s break-up with former fiancée Mezhgan Husseiny.
Despite co-operating with Tom for the book, Simon said has insisted that didn’t know what would make the final copy. And turning up for the launch of the biography at the Serpentine Gallery in London last month, Simon took the opportunity to apologise to anyone embarrassed by the contents.
He said: ''I wish to publicly apologise to anyone I embarrassed. I do have to apologise to members of my family.
''Ten years ago if I had read someone would be writing a book about me saying I made loads of money and s****** loads of girls I would have said, 'Great!'
''I spent the week hiding under a pillow and I couldn't bear to look at The Sun [newspaper]. I knew it was bad because friends were sending me sweet messages saying, 'Are you OK?'''
Tom and Simon are said to have remained on good terms however.
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