Legal trouble brews for Simon Cowell as ‘December 10’ name sparks backlash

Simon Cowell’s new boy band ‘December 10’ faces early backlash as a rival group hints at legal action over name row

Simon Cowell has officially unveiled his latest music project, a seven member boy band called December 10, marking a new chapter in his long history of shaping chart focused pop acts. The group was introduced alongside the release of Cowell’s new Netflix series ‘Simon Cowell: The Next Act’, which follows the process of assembling and launching the band from open casting calls to their debut release.

December 10 is made up of Hendrik Christoffersen, Cruz Lee Ojo, John Fadare, Nicolas Alves, Josh Olliver, Danny Bretherton and Sean Hayden. Cowell revealed the name during the series, explaining that it was chosen to align with the show’s release date of 10 December, framing it as the group’s official starting point. On the programme, Cowell said, “The show drops on 10 December, so it can be like our birthday, like our anniversary.”

However, the launch has quickly attracted controversy. Scottish metal band December Tenth publicly raised concerns about the similarity between the two names, claiming confusion among fans and a sudden influx of unexpected messages online. In a statement shared on social media and later deleted, the band said it had become clear that Simon Cowell, Netflix and Universal Music were connected to a new act whose name closely resembled their own. They also indicated that their legal team was aware of the situation and open to contact.

The online fallout was immediate. Social media users pointed out the overlap, while others joked about the contrast between a metal band and a polished pop group sharing near identical names. December Tenth also acknowledged a sharp rise in followers, suggesting that many were likely fans of Cowell’s group who had arrived by mistake.

This is not the first time Cowell has encountered naming issues with a music act. In 2011, Little Mix were initially known as Rhythmix during their time on ‘The X Factor’. The group later changed its name following a dispute with a children’s charity that already used Rhythmix, a decision that ultimately avoided prolonged conflict.

As of now, neither Simon Cowell nor representatives for Netflix or Universal Music have issued a formal response to the concerns raised by December Tenth. The situation leaves December 10 in an unusual position so early in their career, with attention split between their music ambitions and a potential legal challenge.