Kenan Thompson has been locked in to take Simon Cowell’s seat on America’s Got Talent.
On Friday, August 28, Deadline reported that the 48-year-old American actor and comedian has been confirmed to join the panel as guest judge on the ongoing Season 21 of the talent show competition series.
His selection comes after Simon Cowell, who has been judging the show since 2016, stepped away to undergo a surgery.
On the September 1 episode of America’s Got Talent, Thompson will appear as guest judge for the Quarterfinals Round 3, alongside Mel B, Howie Mandel, and Sofía Vergara at the judges’ table.
Why did Simon Cowell leave America’s Got Talent?
On Sunday, August 23, TMZ reported that the 66-year-old English TV personality has been forced to leave the America’s Got Talent Season 31 for a few weeks to undergo a surgery.
According to the report, the Pop Idol judge is set to undergo “routine back surgery” in the aftermath of his horror bike crash in 2020.
The terrifying incident, in which Cowell fell of a powerful electric bike, left him with a broken back and almost paralyzed.
At the time, the talent show host suffered multiple fractures in his back and underwent a lengthy, six-hour surgery to repair the serious injuries, with doctors inserting a metal rod into his back.
However, despite the major surgery, it appears that Simon Cowell’s back problems have not been resolved completely.
The music mogul is now reportedly scheduled to undergo another routine back procedure, which will require him to take several weeks away from filming America’s Got Talent Season 31 while he recovers.
About Simon Cowell
Born on October 7, 1959, in London, England, Simon Phillip Cowell is an English television personality, record executive, and entrepreneur.
He is best known for his blunt, critical and controversial judging style on several television and talent shows, including American Idol, Pop Idol, The X Factor, America’s Got Talent, and Britain’s Got Talent.
