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Simon Cowell’s bizarre talk show appearance shocks internet
It’s been declared “the most awkward walk out ever”: Simon Cowell’s entrance onto this daytime talk show has been watched by millions.
@bondnickbond
September 23, 2025 – 1:02PM
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Celebrities know there’s one potentially cringe-worthy ritual they have to endure if they want to book a guest spot on Jennifer Hudson’s daytime talk show: The “Spirit Tunnel.”
The most frequently watched segment of Hudson’s show happens backstage, as guests emerge from a green room to find the show’s crew lining the corridor, hyping them up as they take to the stage. Celebs are expected to get into the party spirit, clapping and dancing along, so the moment can be packaged up and shared on the show’s social media accounts.
Some people handle the segment with aplomb (check out Penn Badgley, leaning all the way in and busting out some super-smooth moves).
Occasionally, celebs refuse to do it altogether – like The Pitt star Noah Wyle, who politely explained during his April interview with Hudson that he wanted to spare the public the sight of him attempting to dance.
And today, in record company exec and American Idol judge Simon Cowell, we might have our most awkward spirit tunnel victim yet.
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Cowell emerges into the tunnel like a newborn baby deer unaware of where to put its limbs: He claps like no person has ever clapped before (except perhaps Nicole Kidman).
Cowell looks deeply embarrassed, as well he should, as he wanders down the hall clapping offbeat.
The clip, which lasts an interminable 20 seconds, has already been viewed more than 13 million times on social media since the show posted it (by contrast, the spirit tunnel footage from today’s other guest on the show, model Olivia Culpo, has so far clocked up around 3,000 views. Sorry, Olivia).
The Spirit Tunnel claims another celebrity victim.
“Why’s he clapping like a seal?” read one perfectly reasonable response.
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“The most awkward walk out I’ve ever seen in my life,” wrote one commenter, while another declared it the “worst” spirit tunnel clip the show had ever posted.
Despite appearances, Cowell insisted to Hudson at the top of their interview that he’d “absolutely loved” his bewildering 20 seconds trapped inside the spirit tunnel.
“It’s the best way of coming on a show that I’ve ever done in my life! Do you mind if I steal it for AGT [America’s Got Talent]?” he asked.
He finished his appraisal of the “brilliant” segment with something that reads more like a threat: “I wanted to do it twice … I might do it on the way back.”
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