Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-36491208-20190710144706/@comment-1650307-20190718225118

Simon's mean persona was also what made him popular and what made him unique. It started the archetype and the stereotype. That's what made vintage American Idol auditions so much fun to watch.

I always thought he was softer because of all the PC culture of people would get offended if you said anything even the slightest bit mean.