I just copied and pasted this from another forum as I thought it was really interesting, it is a summary of what was written in Simon's unauthorised biography about Cheryl's sacking.
Quote:
Given what has been said in the book (summary below) and to the press lately, it doesn't seem like he's annoyed at Cheryl. Negotiations to get her back on the UK show seemed to start off OK - she had been open to the idea since it was first brought up after a disappointing start in Los Angeles. Bower writes that had it been anyone else, they'd have been promptly dispatched after LA. But hopeful that things would turn around, she got another chance. One of the UK Exec Producers tried to lift her spirits and after the first day, The Sun ran a headline which read "America Loves Cheryl". The team speculated that the seating arrangement was what was making her too quiet.
Sir Philip Green advised Cowell to prepare for a potential UK return and the Manchester auditions were cancelled to give her another chance in Chicago while keeping open the option of a UK return in time for the start of the Birmingham auditions. Between LA and Chicago, she was to be in Cannes. Philip Green text her to meet for a drink to discuss the situation (he too was in Cannes) but she never got back and instead her agent told him a few hours later that she couldn't meet him (Cowell was not surprised that she dodged a difficult meeting, but it reflected poorly nonetheless). Cheryl didn't do well in Chicago and after endless discussion, it seemed nobody was impressed and she wasn't looking happy to be on the show. Cowell was also getting jittery about the show as a whole. Amidst widespread indecision from the many parties involved, Cowell suggested that she be dropped from the show and return to the UK. Mike Darnell and Cecile Frot-Coutaz were more concerned about their $2m and neither enthused about the prospect of her staying.
Negotiations in the UK started well when Cowell spoke to Cheryl but hit an iceberg when will.i.am came on board - he had been an odd choice of agent for a potential US TV star given his total lack of TV experience. A difficult situation was made worse when the story hit the press. The final offer was worth nearly £4m and included an Executive Producer credit on X Factor. Will.i.am even proposed she get equity in the show - "it's not mine to give" was Cowell's reply. It didn't help that ITV weren't overly enthusiastic about bringing her back. But things took another turn when, unhappy with Nicole as a replacement and paying Cheryl $2m, the 2 US chiefs felt Cheryl should go back to XF USA. Eventually, Cowell agreed, though he wasn't thrilled with the idea and felt they were penny pinching on a mega-budget. Cheryl ignored contact from Cecile Frot-Coutaz and when will.i.am spoke to Cowell, he ranted and raved that it was some kind of plot to get the $2m back if she didn't show up. And that was the end of it.
As Nicole entered his trailer on the final night to distribute gifts to him, Darnell and Frot-Coutaz, her fate was already sealed.
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Although I am fine now with her not being part of it and quite happy she has alot of time to promote, I still would have liked to have seen her on the show and I wish she never hired Will.I.Am as her manager.
But it is rather funny that even before Nicole started auditions, producers knew how bad she was going to be and wanted Cheryl back. lol
