Acid-tongued American Idol judge Simon Cowell has defended mocking a contestant for his "bush baby" looks, saying "if you don't want to hear that, don't show up." The hit TV talent show has been heavily criticized since the first episode of the new season was screened on Tuesday, with Entertainment Weekly critic Michael Slezak claiming, "The 'American Idol' auditions in Seattle sometimes crossed the line into outright cruelty."

Chat show host Rosie O'Donnell has slammed the show's tendency to "make fun of someone's physical appearance and then when they leave the room laugh hysterically," after Cowell also called a tall contestant a "giraffe" and asked an overweight hopeful if he'd borrowed the pants of chubby fellow judge Randy Jackson.

But Cowell is adamant contestants know what they're letting themselves in for and shouldn't take the "off-the-cuff remarks" too seriously. He adds, "If he's offended, then I apologize. I might never call anyone a bush baby again."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)