Music mogul Simon Cowell has spoken out in defense of troubled David Hasselhoff, insisting he never came close to replacing the actor on hit TV show America's Got Talent after his recent video controversy. Footage of a drunken Hasselhoff growling abuse at his teenage daughter was leaked to the media earlier this month, prompting many to believe his upcoming gig on Cowell's U.S. summer variety show would be scrapped.

However the Brit insists there's no way he'd replace Hasselhoff: "David is one of the kindest most loyal human beings I have ever met in my life and I will stand by David any day of the week."

Furthermore, if producers on the show had suggested that Hasselhoff should go after the controversy, Cowell would have quit. He adds, "If he'd gone, I would've gone. We're like that, me and David; he's a loyal friend."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)