Britain’s Got Talent facing Ofcom investigation following Simon Cowell 'Brexit remark'
HEAD judge Simon Cowell appeared to express his opinion on the upcoming EU vote during Saturday night's live Britian's Got Talent final - and could have consequently sparked an Ofcom investigation.
Did Simon Cowell hint at how he'll vote...and try to influence the public?
His golden buzzer act, Boogie Storm, completed their final performance of the series and were receiving their critique from the judging panel.
When it was his turn to speak, Cowell said: "Why I think this is important for the Great British public to get behind you is that we embrace people from other galaxies. I think that we proved we have some very important decisions coming up in this country. Voting you as the winner of Britain's Got Talent makes a very important statement."
Viewers took this to be the 56-year-old divulging how he plans to vote in next month's referendum and saw it as an attempt to influence the public.
Hundreds of comments appeared on Twitter. "Did Simon Cowell, the Karaoke Sauron, just come out in favour of multiculturalism and staying in the EU?" was just one example.
Simon Cowell may be approached by Ofcom following his alleged political remarks
The comments came when Cowell was critiquing Boogie Storm
Why I think this is important for the Great British public to get behind you is that we embrace people from other galaxies. I think that we proved we have some very important decisions coming up in this country
Whether this was indeed a direct reference or not is still to be confirmed. The only tweet Cowell has posted since the finale was a thank you to previous winner Ashley Banjo, who organised a 10 year anniversary reunion with all the champions of the series so far.
"That was my favourite ever @bgt moment. Thank you so much @AshleyBanjo," he posted.
He may have to divulge what his remarks meant, however, as media watchdog Ofcom is reportedly addressing the situation with regard to their rules on political impartiality in the run-up to elections.
An ITV spokesman declined to comment on the matter, but The Sun has reported that a source told them: "Simon was coming up with a funny line and doesn't make political statements."
Cowell seen leaving a London hotel over the bank holiday weekend
Did Simon Cowell, the Karaoke Sauron, just come out in favour of multiculturalism and staying in the EU?
— Russ (@DickGraceless) May 28, 2016
Obviously @SimonCowell wants 2stay in EU.
— ?GARO? (@g_a_zz) May 28, 2016
Shameless plug by him.
He can stay over there when we pull up draw bridge#Brexit#BGTFinal#BGT
In Britain's Got Talent Simon Cowell just equated voting for one of his acts to voting in the EU referendum.
— Kevin Beaumont (@GossiTheDog) May 28, 2016
Cowell told the Daily Mirror that he'll be voting to stay in the EU when the vote rolls around on June 23, which would line up with his implied comments from Saturday.
He told the paper: "If you really want to get an honest and good result you hand it over to the public. You don’t let a small group make decisions in dark rooms or things like that. I don’t believe in that… this is democracy.
"My gut feeling is I don’t think at this time - because it is a tricky time - you would want to be on your own on a tiny island."