Simon Cowell had a number of “awkward” experiences with music executives as a child when he was following his father into the business.
The 58-year-old music mogul, whose dad was an executive at EMI Music Publishing, spoke out about entertainment industry harassment after being asked about the sexual assault scandals which have rocked Hollywood.
“Look, I have grown up in the music business,” he told British newspaper The Sun. “Even as a kid I was put in situations when I was first working you know, it’s not a very nice business. But people get what they deserve. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Last month (Oct17), explosive reports in The New Yorker and the New York Times accused movie boss Harvey Weinstein of harassing and assaulting actresses and employees.
Since then hundreds of people have spoken out about sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and beyond – and the actor Kevin Spacey is facing allegations of harassing males as young as 14 years old.
Speaking at a ceremony held in London to honor Sony Music chief Rob Stringer with the Music Industry Trusts Award, Cowell also expressed hope the scandals would “change” behaviour in the entertainment industry.
Harry Styles, Camila Cabello, George Ezra, members of Spandau Ballet and Depeche Mode, the Manic Street Preachers’ Nicky Wire and ELO star Jeff Lynne all attended the event.
Harry, who signed with Sony as a solo artist after making his name with One Direction, the band Cowell discovered on U.K. TV show The X Factor, performed his track Two Ghosts at the bash.
The award ceremony is held to raise funds for the BRIT Trust and Nordoff Robbins music charities, and previous honorees include Cowell, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Roger Daltrey, The Beatles’ producer George Martin, Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
