Simon Cowell Criticizes Depeche Mode Member for Saying He Should Be Shot

LONDON -- The X Factor and American Idol creator Simon Cowell on Monday expressed his anger about a comment last week from Depeche Mode's Martin Gore that the music competition TV show star should be shot.

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Calling Gore a "weirdo," he said the musician's comments could instigate people amid continuing gun-crime incidents in the U.S.

Gore last week shared his negative views of shows like X Factor and Cowell's influence with MusicWeek, saying, “I'm not advocating violence, but I think somebody should shoot Simon Cowell."

"His influence in the music industry over the last God knows how many years it’s been now … it's just like, so many people think that that's what music is."

Cowell on Monday commented on the remarks on Twitter. "I read Martin Gore wants to shoot me," he wrote. "He was is (sic) in Depeche Mode. Do you realize how weird and stupid that makes you. Go and watch the news.”

Added Cowell: “Why I am angry about weirdo Gore is a ton of people have got shot this year, and people like weirdo Gore encourage this.”

Gore had in the context of his Cowell rant argued that modern bands tend to be manufactured, while Depeche Mode had the chance to develop over time. "What happened to bands getting together? They are very few and far between now, and the ones that do probably can’t afford to get into a studio and make a record," Gore had said.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com
Twitter: @georgszalai