Judge also takes shot at ‘The Voice,’ asking, ‘How many artists have they discovered?’ By John Mitchell Simon Cowell Photo: FOX Simon Cowell is finally opening up about the cast shakeups on “The X Factor” as well as about rumors that two very famous divas are in talks to join Fox’s reality singing competition. Late last month, it was announced that judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones had been fired from “X Factor” and would be replaced in its second season. The announcement came as a shock to fans, but Cowell tells “Extra” in an interview airing Wednesday (February 8) that the decision was a long time coming and was ultimately made “at the beginning of the year — and we were told it had to happen straight away.” While her dismissal came as a surprise, Cowell says Abdul “was very gracious” about it. “She understands it’s business,” Cowell said of his real-life friend. “It’s never personal.” Scherzinger, according to Cowell, was “disappointed” with the producers’ decision to replace her. But the former Pussycat Doll insisted in a new “Access Hollywood” interview that she “had a wonderful experience on the show.” “What happened? Well, all I know is that I gave 110 percent to that show,” she said. “I know everybody’s talking about it, they’re saying good, bad, they love me or hate me, but the one thing you can’t say is that I didn’t give it my all.” Cowell also used his time with “Extra” to squash rumors that Beyonc
