Simon Cowell says he absolutely loved spirit tunnel entrance on Jennifer Hudson Show amid online mockery of his clapping

Simon Cowell says he absolutely loved The Jennifer Hudson Show's spirit tunnel entrance, despite widespread online mockery of his clapping style. The America's Got Talent judge appeared on the talk show, where crew members lined the corridor and sang a tune inspired by The Greatest Showman as he made his way to the set. At the end of the tunnel, Cowell joked that he might do it again and asked Jennifer Hudson if he could steal the idea for AGT.

During the interview, Hudson asked whether he enjoyed the entrance. Cowell said he absolutely loved it and noted that the idea is a great way to come onto a show, hinting he might steal it for AGT. Hudson suggested the idea could be brought to AGT if Cowell invited them to perform again.

Reaction on social media was swift. The clip posted to X drew memes about the clapping, with fans describing it as awkward and comparing his arms to a deepfake. Some posts questioned whether the clapping was deliberate or a glitch, while others joked that the moment looked like an AI take on the real thing.

Beyond the studio moment, Cowell has publicly discussed his ongoing fitness and lifestyle changes. He arrived at the AGT set in Pasadena, California earlier this month in workout gear after detailing a regimen that has helped him shed more than three stone. He has said he performs around 100 push-ups a day and uses Perfect Push-Up handles to ease pressure on his wrists and elbows. He described his weight loss as the result of a drastic diet overhaul, not surgery, reiterating in interviews that he cut out pies, red meat and gluten after a Harley Street doctor warned about the state of his diet. He has noted that he now mostly avoids ordering meals when dining out and that his improved eating habits are part of a broader effort to maintain his physique.

Cowell has described a history of significant health and lifestyle changes following a 2020 back injury from an electric-bike crash near his Malibu home. Since then, he has emphasized regular sleep, structured exercise, and a disciplined approach to eating. In discussing his medical consultations, he has said a doctor told him his previous diet was among the worst he had seen in patients, prompting him to adopt a diet that exclude certain foods and focus on cleaner choices. He has also spoken about doing most workouts at home or in his office, balancing his demanding television schedule with a regimen intended to support long-term health and fitness.

Fans outside the studio have continued to follow Cowell’s routine, noting the contrast between his public appearances and the private discipline he maintains. While he has not pursued or endorsed any surgical weight-loss procedure, his public statements reflect a commitment to gradual, sustained changes that he says have helped her reshaped his silhouette and energy levels. Cowell’s team has not indicated any plans to revive or expand the spirit tunnel concept beyond its Jennifer Hudson appearance, but he left open the possibility of bringing similar introductions to other projects, including AGT, if invited.

The moment has reinforced Cowell’s ability to generate online conversation beyond his work on AGT, with viewers parsing not only the entrance itself but the social-media response that followed. As he continues touring press rounds and promoting projects, observers will likely watch how much of the spirit tunnel moment—if any of it—appears in future appearances or repeats, and how his ongoing fitness journey shapes public perception of the longtime television judge.