Alert – Simon Cowell says Katie Piper is ‘one of the most special people’ he has ever met before sharing a sweet comment about son Eric following in his footsteps – as they attend charity carol concert

Simon Cowell said that Katie Piper is ‘one of the most special people’ he has ever met as they attended a charity carol concert. 

The music mogul, 65, attended the Katie Piper Foundation’s third annual carol concert at St Peter’s Church in London on Wednesday, joined by his wife Lauren Silverman and son Eric.

Simon – who has been a patron of the charity for 15 years – gushed about his 16-year friendship with Katie as he gave a speech on the night, hailing her tireless work to help other burn survivors. 

‘You’re the real definition of what I call strength, being a survivor in so many ways and real, real, true inspiration,’ he said.

At the end of his speech, Simon made a touching comment about his son Eric’s soon-to-be involvement in the charity.

Sharing his desire to pass on the baton to Eric, 10, Simon said: ‘I am honoured to be a friend. I will always be here with you, with Lauren, and in years to come Eric. [to Eric] Over to you next!’

Simon Cowell said that Katie Piper is ‘one of the most special people’ he has ever met as they attended a charity carol concert in London on Wednesday

Sharing his desire to pass on the baton to Eric, 10, Simon said: ‘I am honoured to be a friend. I will always be here with you, with Lauren, and in years to come Eric. [to Eric] Over to you next!’ (Simon and Eric pictured in September)

Addressing Katie in his speech, Simon said: ‘You are honestly one of the most special people I’ve ever met because I want to take you back 16 years.

’16 years ago I saw the documentary, and I saw someone in tremendous pain. I can’t imagine what you went through.

‘You put those two elements together, and how do you actually just get out of bed in the morning after that? And she got through. 

‘I’m sorry to talk for you but we’ve spoken about it.It’s a painful process, again, mentally and physically, to get through the way she got through.’

He continued: ‘I joke about the fact that I saw the documentary and I offered Katie a job but she turned me down. She said no, I want to start this charity.

‘I’ve seen you [to Katie] over the years, give so much of yourself to so many people in such a spectacularly extraordinary way. 

‘You’ve always been here for me as a friend, and to so many people, I’m sure, here as a friend, you’re the real definition of what I call strength, being a survivor in so many.’

The carol concert saw a special performance by Britain’s Got Talent 2024 finalist Innocent Masuku and burns survivor Mobi1, as well as readings by Simon’s wife Lauren, Katie Piper and daughters and Katie Brindle. 

The music mogul, 65, attended the Katie Piper Foundation’s third annual carol concert at St Peter’s Church in London on Wednesday, joined by his wife Lauren Silverman and son Eric

Simon – who has been a patron of the charity for 15 years – gushed about his 16-year friendship with Katie as he gave a speech on the night, hailing her tireless work to help other burn survivors

‘You’re the real definition of what I call strength, being a survivor in so many ways and real, real, true inspiration,’ Simon said of Katie 

Presenter Katie called out a vile troll on Instagram back in October after being targeted over her appearance and cruelly told she should ‘jump out a window’ to end her suffering.

The Loose Women star, 41, suffered facial burns and blindness in one eye after she was attacked with acid by her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch and accomplice Stefan Sylvestre in 2008. 

Katie shared a snap of the comment and admitted that while she doesn’t usually draw attention to cruel posts, this one ‘was beyond anything’ she could handle and adding to the ‘heavy load’ she was already carrying.

It started with the follower asking ‘where’s your nose?’ to which the broadcaster replied: ‘Being pulled into my fave by thick scar tissue it’s incredibly painful’. 

They then commented: ‘Yep, it’s cool but my nose is normal. I wish you to stop suffering as soon as possible. 

‘I recommend that you go out the window, preferably on the 10th-11th floor, perhaps this will ease your suffering’ – followed by laughing emojis.’

Katie called out a vile troll on Instagram in October after being targeted over her appearance and cruelly told she should ‘jump out a window’ to end her suffering

Katie shared a snap of the comment and admitted that while she doesn’t usually draw attention to cruel posts, this one ‘was beyond anything’ she could handle and adding to the ‘heavy load’ she was already carrying

Katie wrote: ‘After completing my run this morning, feeling already depleted because of my bad time, I opened my phone to this’

Katie wrote: ‘After completing my run this morning, feeling already depleted because of my bad time, I opened my phone to this. I can handle most things, but sometimes it adds to an already heavy load you are carrying.

‘You never know how people are feeling, what they’re going through, how their days are and even if you did, the only person we’re judging because of this comment, is you.

‘I wouldn’t usually call this out so personally, but this is beyond anything even I can handle. This behaviour should always be called out, people need to do better.’

‘This is not OK, and it will never be OK. If you can write something anything negative online and press ‘post’, you are a special time of person’.