Jade Thirlwall issued a six-word response as she addressed her reported “feud” with Simon Cowell.
The Little Mix star features on The Assembly on Sunday (May 4), where she fields questions from a group of young people who are autistic, neurodivergent or have learning disabilities.
The new series, which premiered on ITV1 last weekend, also sees the likes of Danny Dyer, David Tennant and Gary Lineker sitting in the hot seat.
During the latest instalment of The Assembly, which is now available to stream on ITVX, Jade addresses her former music manager, Simon Cowell, simply saying: “It’s the end of that era.”
After winning The X Factor in 2011, Little Mix secured a recording contract with Simon’s label, Syco. However, in 2018, just days before their LM5 album was released, it was revealed that the group would be moving to RCA Records.
“A lot of X Factor winners have sold their soul, do you regret selling yours?” Paul asks during the ITV show.
“Do I regret selling my soul?” a shocked Jade responds, adding: “It’s a good question. You’ve trumped me.”
She continues: “Maybe a little bit in the beginning, you know… I was so young and I just signed the dotted line.
“But I feel like as the years have gone by, and I’ve learnt more and more about the industry, I’ve been collecting, a bit like Thanos with the stones, I’ve been collecting parts of my soul back. As I’ve gained more and more creative freedom, I’ve learnt more about the industry.”
Paul then enquires: “Is this the end of Simon Cowell?”
Jade replies: “I think it’s the end of that kind of TV show or music label. I think it’s the end of that era, but I don’t know if Simon Cowell specifically is ended.”
The Angel of My Dreams singer then revealed that she once had a Sunday roast at Simon’s house, which she said had “a lot of monochrome”.
During the interview, Jade also faces questions about her boyfriend Jordan Stephens, her Egyptian heritage and religious beliefs.
On being asked about her image, the star says: “The thing that annoys me the most and I get asked the most is if I’m going to have children, ‘Do I want to be pregnant next, am I pregnant?’
“But I find it really weird people ask that because they don’t know what my circumstances are.
“You don’t know if someone can’t have children or just doesn’t want to or not ready yet. I think it’s a really invasive question and I really resent being asked it.”