Simon Cowell responds to gay court claims: 'The question of whether someone is or is not gay is antiquated'

The X Factor judge addresses discussion over his sexuality, following collapse of Tulisa Contostavlos's drug trial

British music and television producer Simon Cowell (GETTY IMAGES)

Simon Cowell has responded to claims that he is gay.

The allegations were heard at Tulisa Contostavlos's drug trial last week, when a recording was played of her PA, Gareth Varey, telling ‘fake sheikh’ Mazher Mahmood that he knew people that the X Factor judge had slept with.

The trial was yesterday (21 July) thrown out of court after the judge said he had “strong grounds for believing” that the Sun on Sunday undercover journalist “told me lies when he gave evidence”. He has been suspended from the publication pending further investigation.

A spokesperson for Cowell last week suggested that a statement would be made once the trial had ended.

“Simon was referred to during the trial without forewarning, resulting in widespread media coverage of untrue claims regarding his private life,” a new statement read.

“In 2014 the question of whether someone is or is not gay is antiquated. (As it happens he isn't, though if he were, he would simply have said so).

“However, the issue was the false suggestion made by Mr Varey that Simon - who is renowned for his honesty and candidness - had thus not been truthful in the public arena and this is what we have been obliged to clarify.”

Contostavlos addressed the press following the court collapse, describing what was “horrific and disgusting entrapment”.

“This case only happened because Mahmood and his team tricked me into believing I was auditioning for a major movie role,” said the singer in a statement.

“They targeted me at a time when things were going badly for me and they had no mercy. Mahmood got me and my team completely intoxicated and persuaded me to act the part of a bad, rough, ghetto girl. They recorded this and produced it as evidence when I thought it was an audition. It was a terrible thing to do.”