Simon Cowell denies abandoning Netflix project to find the next One Direction

Simon Cowell has dismissed reports claiming he has quit a Netflix show aimed at finding the next One Direction.

The 64-year-old music mogul, known for creating The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, began a UK-wide search for a new pop group in June.

However, the show encountered issues when only about 40 people showed up for the first audition.

This weekend, the Mail on Sunday reported that Cowell was leaving the project. The newspaper quoted a source saying, “‘Simon has been told the original idea behind the series needs to change. Rather than focusing on the creation of a boyband capable of going on to massive success, the focus is now much more on him.”

In a statement to The Sun, a spokesperson for Cowell said, “This story, published in today’s Mail on Sunday, is entirely fabricated. The journalist failed to adhere to basic journalism standards by neglecting to verify facts or seek comments from anyone involved."

“The claims made are false, and the quoted source appears to be completely invented. This project is primarily a search for a boyband, which is being documented.”

The spokesperson added, “The article completely misrepresents how the music and documentary team views the audition process and the overall situation as far as the level of talent that the music team have found.”

The spokesperson also mentioned that the show’s original title, The Midas Touch, has been changed, though the new title was not disclosed. Cowell is reportedly still searching for new boyband members, with auditions continuing.

It has been 14 years since Cowell and his fellow judges formed One Direction on The X Factor. After finishing in second place in 2010, the group gained international fame and released several hit albums before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.