Music mogul Simon Cowell has hit back at Martin Gore’s suggestion that he should be “shot”, declaring that the Depeche Mode guitarist is a “weirdo” and his comments were in extremely bad taste.
The X-Factor UK and US boss posted two tweets on his Twitter account – addressing the now-infamous remarks which Gore made through an interview with Music Week.
“I read Martin Gore wants to shoot me. He is in Depeche Mode. Do you realise how weird and stupid that makes you. Go and watch the news.”
Cowell later said the comments were insensitive to victims of shootings – and were encouraging unruly behaviour.
“Why I am angry about weirdo Gore is a ton of people have got shot this year and people like weirdo Gore encourage this.”
Check out the tweets in full at the bottom of the page.
Gore indicated that he was not “advocating for violence” in his original comments – where he bemoaned Cowell’s influence on the music industry in recent years.
“I’m not advocating violence, but I think somebody should shoot Simon Cowell,” Gore said in Music Week.
“His influence in the music industry over [several] years now… it’s just like, so many people think that that’s what music is. What happened to bands getting together? They are very few and far between now and the ones that do probably can’t afford to get into a studio and make a record.”
Depeche Mode are planning a world tour and a new album in 2013. They have already locked in a string of European dates from May-July, and appearances at festivals including Rock Wertcher in Belgium, BBK Live Bilbao, and Optimus Live Festival in Lisbon.
I read Martin gore wants to shoot me. He was is in depeche mode. Do you realise how weird and stupid that makes you. Go and watch the news.
— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) November 26, 2012
Why I am angry about weirdo gore is a ton of people have got shot this year and people.like weirdo gore encourage this.
— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) November 26, 2012
