Simon Cowell earned a reputation as TV's "Mr. Nasty" after American Idol made him a global star. However, the music mogul isn't too pleased with his reputation. The former Idol and X Factor judge, 66, told The New York Times in an interview published on Saturday, November 29, that he regrets some of his insulting comments to contestants on the hit singing competition, explaining, "I wasn't trying to be a d*** on purpose." "All I wanted with these shows was to find successful artists to sign to the label," he continued.