Simon Cowell says he absolutely loved the spirit tunnel on The Jennifer Hudson Show, despite fans' mockery of his clapping

Simon Cowell says he absolutely loved doing The Jennifer Hudson Show's spirit tunnel entrance, despite fans mocking his awkward clapping online. As crew members lined the corridor and sang about him to a tune inspired by The Greatest Showman, the America's Got Talent judge clapped along, reaching the end of the corridor and quipping, “Can I do that again” before walking on to set.

On the episode, host Jennifer Hudson asked Cowell whether he enjoyed the spirit tunnel. He replied, “I absolutely loved that, when they told me about it, it is seriously the best way of coming onto a show, seriously do you mind if I steal it for AGT.” Hudson teased a collaboration, and Cowell added that he might use the entrance again, saying, “I think it's brilliant. I want to do it twice, I might do it on the way back.”

The moment was shared on X, where fans mocked Cowell’s clapping style, with comments joking about awkward moves and “kangaroo arms.” Some posts questioned the timing of his hands and fingers after the clap, while others urged him to blink for help. The lighthearted online chatter came as Cowell arrived at the America’s Got Talent set in Pasadena, California earlier this month, carrying workout gear.

Cowell arrived in a casual workout look, wearing a dark gray, fitted T-shirt paired with baggy cut‑off shorts, signaling that he has kept up his fitness regimen in recent years as part of a broader lifestyle overhaul following a 2020 back injury sustained in an electric-bike crash near his Malibu home. He has described regular sleep routines and workouts as part of his routine, and has spoken publicly about shedding more than 20 pounds. He has said his regime involves working out at home and at the office, and he has shared specifics about his routine in past interviews.

A staple of his fitness push has been resistance training and core work, with Cowell once noting that he does 100 push-ups before he bathes in the morning, followed by additional sets after meetings. He has also been seen using tools such as Perfect Push-up handles to reduce wrist and elbow strain while maximizing muscle activation. In discussing his weight loss, he has explained that he tightened his diet rather than resorting to surgical options, countering rumors about gastric procedures.

In interviews over the years, Cowell has described the dramatic dietary changes that accompanied his health reboot. He has said that a Harley Street doctor led him toward a stricter plan that eliminated pies, red meat and gluten, and that he adheres to a regimen focused on cleaner eating. He has stressed that he has not undergone a gastric band procedure, emphasizing that his results came from a combination of diet reform and sustained exercise. He noted that when dining out, he is selective, and he has sometimes allowed himself a simple plate of beans on toast rather than indulging in large meals.

As the day’s chatter around the spirit tunnel and the clapping clip continued to trend, Cowell’s broader public profile remained anchored in his well-documented work on television and his ongoing health emphasis. While fans enjoyed the playful moment on Hudson’s show, the accompanying discussion underscored how public personalities increasingly blend entertainment moments with earlier, more personal health disclosures that shape how audiences see them—on and off air.