Big Boys: Simon Cowell ‘loses $20,000 bet with LA Reid after Tate Stevens is crowned X Factor USA winner’

He very rarely gets it wrong.

So Simon Cowell must still be smarting, following reports that he lost a $20,000 bet with fellow X Factor USA judge LA Reid, after his act was crowned champion.

According to TMZ, the pair had made a wager at the start of the season that if either of them won the show they would pay out the fee, with Reid’s Tate Stevens the ultimate winner.

Meanwhile, Cowell has weighed in on LeAnn Rimes’ duet with Carly Rose Sonenclar on X Factor USA, following a saga that will appear to live on in infamy for the singing competition.

The country music singer took the stage opposite the 13-year-old finalist for a rendition of her 1997 hit How Do I Live on Wednesday night and was slammed for hogging the spotlight with ad libs and hair tosses, with some going as far to accuse her of being drunk.

Defending LeAnn after Carly lost the competiton the following night, he told TMZ: ‘I think she was just happy.’

The website speculated the X Factor judge was leaving out part of the story when he was asked if he thought LeAnn was ‘on something’ during her performance, the inflection of his voice rising as he said, ‘Nooo,’ with a smirk.

‘It was interesting. I think she was just happy. LeAnn’s welcome anytime,’ he said.

The point is moot anyway, according to the TV mogul.

Simon said he doesn’t believe the duet affected the outcome for Carly, who lost out to country music singer Tate Stevens on Thursday night.

‘He did deserve to win. I don’t think it made any difference at all,’ he said.

Carly’s parents appear to disagree.

According to the website, her mother has slammed LeAnn for ‘trashing’ her daughter in attempt to explain her over-the-top performance.

Losing out: Cowell did not believe that Tate Stevens had what it takes to become the eventual X Factor USA winnerLosing out: Cowell did not believe that Tate Stevens had what it takes to become the eventual X Factor USA winner

The teenager’s family is said to be fuming after Rimes was quoted by TMZ claiming she was merely helping a nervous girl get through the performance.

‘I was trying to help this 13-year-old girl who was having some trouble with the song,’ she said, according to the website.

LeAnn , now 30, recorded How Do I Live when she was 15.

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Who's competing: LeAnn Rimes performed a duet with X Factor finalist Carly Rose Sonenclair on Wednesday's show

Controversial: LeAnn Rimes caught heat for out-singing X Factor finalist Carly Rose Sonenclar on during their duet on Wednesday night

 

Me first: The country singer also threw her hair in the 13-year-old's faceWho’s competing here? LeAnn and Carly belted out the country singer’s 1997 hit How Do I Live

While her lawyer issued a statement to the media outlet, calling allegations she was drunk ‘untrue’, LeAnn denied issuing the comment.

Instead, she baulked at the suggestion she was drunk during the performance in a statement posted on her Twitter account before the X Factor finals on Thursday.

‘It’s a shame gossip and lies are overshadowing the performance of Carly, a very talented young girl,’ she wrote.

‘In my 18 years of performing, I have never been anything but professional onstage.’

Bigger star: LeAnn was constantly trying to out perform the young contestantBigger star: LeAnn was constantly trying to out perform the young contestant – but but quoted as saying she was only trying to help the teen, who was having trouble with the song
Statement: LeAnn posted this message on Twitter Thursday morning amid speculation over her behaviourStatement: LeAnn posted this message on Twitter Thursday morning amid speculation over her behaviour

She continued: ‘And while I have not given any media outlet a quote, if you want one, here it is “It was an amazing opportunity to share this experience with Carly and I know I’ll be watching for her to win tonight.”‘

LeAnn, whose public affair with now husband Eddie Cibrian has caused her great personal strife, checked into rehab in August for ‘anxiety and stress’.

The Northern Lights star recently spoke to late-night host Jay Leno about the 30-day stint.

Proud parents: Carly got a hug from her parents backstage at the X Factor after another performance

Proud parents: Carly got a hug from her parents backstage at the X Factor after another performance

Waiting for the results: Carly waited with her mentor, Britney Spears, for news on whether or not she would walk away with a $5million recording contract on Thursday night’s episode

‘I turned 30 this year and decided to go into treatment and take care of myself,’ she said.

’30 days for 30 years…I wanted to see that worked out for me.’

LeAnn reiterated that she was only treated for ‘anxiety and stress’ due to growing up in showbiz and her consequent ‘very weird life’.

Judges are ready: Simon waved his hands as the judges prepared themselves for the eveningJudges are ready: Simon waved his hands as the judges prepared themselves for the evening
Off stage: Simon congratulated Tate from his X Factor seat - and has said he doesn't think Carly's duet with LeAnn affected the outcome of the showOff stage: Simon congratulated Tate from his X Factor seat – and has said he doesn’t think Carly’s duet with LeAnn affected the outcome of the show

She also cited her affair with husband Eddie Cibrian, who left his wife Brandi Glanville for the star – married herself at the time to backing dancer Dean Sheremet.

‘The last four years have been very compressed with stress…the affair, getting married.

‘I didn’t know how to deal with it so I wanted to take care of myself.’ow

Of course it wasn’t long before the subject of Cibrian’s ex-wife, with whom he shares two sons, came up.

He wins it all: Tate Stevens triumphed over Carly Rose and fellow finalist Fifth Harmony after 35million votes were cast

He wins it all: Tate Stevens triumphed over Carly Rose and fellow finalist Fifth Harmony after 35million votes were cast

However Rimes was decidedly tactful on the subject though she did joke that all the negative attention she gets from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi, 40, is ‘flattering’ in a weird way.

She said: ‘I should feel flattered that she thinks I’m so interesting that I can be a storyline in her show.’

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