Simon Cowell, the brutally honest judge we all love (or love to hate), just dropped a truth bomb about his former "American Idol" colleague, Ryan Seacrest. Is there trouble in paradise?

In a recent episode of The New York Times' podcast, "The Interview," Cowell was point-blank asked why he thought Seacrest was so darn popular. His response? Let's just say it wasn't exactly a glowing endorsement.

"I don’t know, actually," Cowell admitted. Ouch! He continued, "He was very, very ambitious. And look, I don’t follow his career if I’m being honest with you."

The shade! Cowell didn't stop there. "So I don’t know what he’s done or doing," he added. "We rarely talk now."

Cowell, known for his sharp wit and even sharper critiques, did acknowledge Seacrest's drive. "I always knew with Ryan, he was very steely about his career, wanting to be famous," Cowell remarked, adding, "I mean this massive, massive desire about being very famous.”

He begrudgingly admitted that Seacrest "does work hard," which is like saying the sky is blue. But still, could this be the beginning of a new celebrity feud?

Hold your horses! According to Cowell's rep, there's no bad blood between the two. A rep told Page Six that reports of a feud are greatly exaggerated.

Remember the good ol' days of "American Idol," where Seacrest hosted and Cowell, alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, delivered the zingers? Those were the days!

The pair were together from Season 1 in 2002 until Cowell's exit after Season 9 in 2010. But was their on-screen chemistry always smooth sailing?

Remember that awkward 2007 moment when Cowell made a comment about Seacrest's sexuality? Seacrest, after Cowell offered advice to a performer wearing high heels, quipped, "Stay out of my closet." Cowell retorted, "Come out!"

Sources at the time told Today that the comment, while shocking, was allegedly scripted! Apparently, it was all for show.

"Simon and Ryan are real good friends off-camera," the source claimed. "When the show is on the road for auditions, the two go for drinks and dinner ... There’s no real drama. It’s all for the cameras!”

The banter didn't stop there. Seacrest once called out Cowell for calling him "sweetheart" on air, asserting, "Don’t call me sweetheart. … We don’t have that kind of relationship. I don’t want that kind of relationship."

And who could forget when Seacrest jokingly told Entertainment Weekly in 2010 that Cowell was "so jealous" of him? "From Day One, he was envious of my career at such a young age," Seacrest quipped.

Despite the occasional jab, Seacrest downplayed any lasting animosity. During a 2010 appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," he stated, "We’re actually friendly. We don’t hold a grudge. We have a very competitive spirit and attitude on the show, but we’re friends."

As recently as 2017, Seacrest referred to Cowell as "always entertaining" during another appearance on DeGeneres' show, according to "Entertainment Tonight."

So, is Cowell's recent statement a sign of a simmering feud or just classic Simon being, well, Simon? Only time will tell.

One thing's for sure: these two know how to keep us entertained, even when they're (maybe) not trying to.

Perhaps they should hash it out over a friendly dinner...with cameras rolling, of course!

And while we wait, let's all reminisce about the golden age of "American Idol." What a time to be alive!

Whether it's genuine shade or just playful banter, the dynamic between Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest continues to fascinate us. Long live the (potential) drama!

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