Members of the media tsk tsk’d the notoriously insulting Simon Cowell after he mocked the girth of a former Special Olympics athlete auditioning for “American Idol.” (Cowell asked the contestant, Jonathan Jayne, if he had “borrowed Randy’s trousers.”)
But far from being offended, the Special Olympics said it was glad Cowell treated Jayne as he would anyone else.
“People with intellectual abilities don’t want to be pitied,” the organization said in a statement. “They want to be judged for who they are and appreciated for what they can achieve.”
The Special Olympics also noted that the “Idol” judges were “gracious and very encouraging to Jayne during his rendition of ‘God Bless America.’ ” Paula Abdul, the organization pointed out, “commented admiringly about Jayne’s spirit and advised him to ‘Always believe in yourself.’ “
