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Simon Cowell may have been absent from the America's Got Talent finale, but the veteran judge still found a way to make his presence felt during the competition's final episodes.
Cowell missed the end of the show's 21st season while recovering from back surgery. During the first night of the finale on September 22, host Terry Crews read a message from Cowell in which the television producer sent his best wishes to the finalists.
"Hello everyone, I wanted to wish all the finalists tonight the best of luck," Cowell wrote. "I am so sad that I won't be there in person, but I will be watching from home."
The message provided an emotional reminder of Cowell's long association with the competition, which he helped create in 2006. His absence was particularly noticeable during the finale, when contestants competed for the season's top prize.
Cowell's temporary replacement on the judging panel was British influencer, musician and professional boxer KSI. He joined Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara and Mel B for the finale.
Even while recovering, Cowell managed to add some of his trademark humour to his message. Addressing KSI, he wrote, "Hold onto your water when Mel B is around."
The comment reflected the lively dynamic between the judges, while Crews also acknowledged how unusual it was to reach the finale without Cowell sitting at the judges' table.
"Of course, we miss Simon," the host said.
Cowell's absence followed a planned operation related to injuries he suffered in a 2020 bicycle accident, which left him with multiple fractures to his back. The procedure required him to miss several episodes of the current season as he recovered.
His fellow judge Howie Mandel previously offered an update on Cowell's condition shortly after the operation. Mandel said he had heard that the procedure had been successful and that Cowell was doing well.
The update offered reassurance to fans who had followed Cowell's recovery throughout the season.
Despite his absence, Cowell remained connected to the programme through his message and the temporary addition of KSI to the judging panel.
For a television personality whose blunt critiques and dramatic reactions have become closely associated with America's Got Talent, his absence was impossible to overlook.
Still, his message ensured that the finale included a familiar voice, even if Cowell could only watch the competition from home.
