Simon Says Back Off: The Latest on Cowell’s Paternity Problem

Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman, 2011

When news broke this week that Simon Cowell is reportedly expecting a child with Lauren Silverman, who happens to be his friend Andrew's wife, one of the first questions on everyone's mind was whether or not he'd step up to the plate and be a father to the child.

As cool and calm as he always appears on his hit TV shows, Simon, 53, addressed the issue of his impending fatherhood head on with the media Thursday during Fox's Television Critics Association panel for "The X Factor."

"I haven't read the newspapers. Am I missing something?" he joked after a reporter congratulated him on his new addition. Then he turned slightly more serious.


"I've always had a good relationship with the media," he continued. "When you have a story, you write it. When I need promotion, you give it. It works both ways. You roll with the punches.
"Unfortunately, at the moment, I have to keep this private. It's just one of those things."
Now, many reports are surfacing regarding the nature of Cowell's relationship with Lauren, 36. And every outlet seems to have a source speculating over whether or not the media mogul will marry her.
"There are a lot of things I will eventually clear up when the time is right," Simon told People. "But I really have to be sensitive because there's a lot of people's feelings involved here."

His fellow "X Factor" judges Demi Lovato, Paulina Rubio, and Kelly Rowland all praised Simon to the media, adding that they were certain that if the child is indeed his, he'd be a great dad.

"I think that Simon has always been a very classy guy, he's always been a very respected guy, and he's going to be a great father," Rowland told People.

"It is part of life, the gossip," Rubio added. "He didn't tell me anything yet, but I will support him if it is true."

Cowell and with Lauren and Andrew Silverman in 2011

Both Lauren Silverman, and her husband Andrew Silverman, issued separate statements Thursday.

"My top priority is protecting my 7-year-old son while working to resolve all outstanding issues with my wife," Andrew's statement read. "Hopefully people can respect the interest of our child during this process.""

"I am committed to sorting things out with Andrew as amicably as possible to ensure the well-being of our son," said Lauren's statement. "I would hope for some space and privacy in order to work through this."

Silverman and her son, August 1, 2013 (Splash News)While Simon was busy at the TCAs on Thursday, Silverman was seen out and about in the Hamptons with her mother and son.

There's tremendous interest in this story online. Yahoo! searches for [simon cowell] are up 7,423% in the past 24 hours alone.

Silverman and her son, August 1, 2013

Now folks want to know — what's Lauren Silverman's game plan?

The one thing that most reports agree on is that Simon is likely to take complete responsibility for the child — both in terms of being a presence in the child's life and providing for the kid financially. It's important to note that neither he nor his spokesperson has yet confirmed that the baby is indeed his, although it's been widely reported as being 100% true. But with Lauren still being married to Andrew, could it be in Simon's best interest to first take a paternity test?

Omg! spoke with Lauren Lake, who serves as the presiding judge on the upcoming syndicated TV show "Paternity Court" (launching in September), who shared her thoughts on the Cowell issue. "If Simon knows in his heart that he has had an affair with Lauren Silverman he should voluntarily submit to a paternity test. Then he wouldn't have to go through the public humiliation of having to take one ordered by the court. If it's his child, own up to it, because in the end it will all come out and it will prove that he was having an affair with a married woman.

"In the end he's an accomplished man. Him taking on this responsibly, wholeheartedly, and respectfully is a really great example to set for the young people he's mentored," she continued. "We don't want to see him shucking and jiving around this. You have to own responsibility for the people you bring into this world. If, in fact, this child is his, we want to see him do the right thing."

"This will be a financial commitment, but let's be honest … he's got the money to take care of the child. And his child — as with any child — deserves to be well taken care of. Even if he's ordered to pay child support, I think that he will OK."

We couldn't agree more!

Source : omg.yahoo