The music industry is cruel and exploitative – but don't blame Simon Cowell Cowell faces claims of bullying from former X Factor talent. But blaming Cowell ignores how abuse lies at the heart of the music business X Factor judges Cheryl and Simon Cowell in 2014 Credit: PA For years pop mogul Simon Cowell seemed untouchable. The brains behind television talent shows The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent stuffed the charts with pop stars from One Direction and Little Mix to Susan Boyle and Leona Lewis. But now the 61 year-old svengali is facing the kind of critical mauling he used to gleefully hand out to his wannabe chart stars. Cher Lloyd, who finished fourth in the 2010 series of ITV’s The X Factor, this week used online video platform TikTok to accuse the show of “selling me the dream just to exploit me”.