As usual Simon Cowell is catching criticism for his painfully honest critique of some of the no - hopers auditioning for Americasn Idol. But sometimes people need to hear the truth no matter how much it hurts.

When my friend Sandy Knaur posted an item defending Simon Cowell’s brutally honest assessment of the potential of many candidates for stardom in American Idol over at Gather.com (Simon and Paula) there were predictably some less than approving comments.

One of the symptoms of the "American disease" as observed from this side of the pond is an unwillingness to be honest in public. Americans may call this "good manners" but to the rest of the world it often looks like hypocrisy.

It seems one of Simon’s most controversial comments was made to a very large lady. Was this fattism? I have a little story to tell you.

Some years ago on British Pop Idol (now called The X Factor), Simon allowed himself to be swayed by the other judges to progress a young man named Rik Waller. Rik had a wonderful voice but was morbidly obese.

"The show is called Pop Idol and he's never a pop idol" Simon argued.

Rik played the victim very well and won over the other two judges.

"But he's got a great voice" the other judges insisted. Rik went through to the telephone vote rounds and an e-mail campaign "vote for the fat bastard" started up. Yes the campaign was not really supportive of Rik, it was a public fingers up to the judges. Rik only progressed to the second of the voting rounds, the public had voted for him to go further but his voice had given out.

You see people like you and me think singing is easy. Or at least I did until my wife who is opera trained put me through some exercises that professional singers have to do. Singing properly, controlling the breath, hitting the high notes, is physically exhausting. Sure big people can do it, but they usually learned to sing before they were big, or they were the kind of people who were big but had a high level of natural fitness. Rik did not have natural fitness, he had a chip on his shoulder (as well as a couple of king sized packs in his mouth) and he did self pity like true singers do scales - incessantly.

Later Simon had cause to say that allowing Rik into the later stages of the competition was the biggest mistake he ever made. The lad was utterly obnoxious, he was arrogant and refused to listen to advice. He would not change his eating habits either for the sake of his career or health, missed engagements, let everybody down and responded to any criticism with "you're just saying that because I am fat."

"Its how I am, I can’t help it", Rik would say when advised for the sake of his health go eat less. Having decided he could not do anything about his weight he did not try. Rik was signed up by a record company, had a hit and disappeared. Touring was too tiring for him.

Two years later Rik was given a chance to work with experts on a tacky but well meaning show called celebrity fit club. The British doctor and nutritionist absolutely lacerated Rik with sarcasm, he responded with his mix of arrogance and self pity. While the other celebs were spending evenings in the gym Rik was munching his way thought eight large pizzas. His weight problem was glandular you see, so there was no point starving was there? The show’s fitness instructor, Harvery…Waldron if my memory serves, a US marines drill sergeant (which makes me think this show will have aired in the states) plays the tough army sergeant to the camera but is a nice guy and genuinely sympathetic to peoples problems. He tried and tried to get through to Rik but gave up, finally agreeing to his being asked to leave the show. Harvety has never given up on anybody else.

"People will not try to understand" said Rik.

"I understand very well," said the doctor, "that he is a spoiled brat."

"That boy does not want to sort himself out" said ex - sergeant Harvey. "He’s a mess and he ain’t going to live to see forty. But he absolutely will not listen to anybody."

Rik’s last gasp chance to redeem himself came last year. He was in some reality show where 10 z- listers were put in a house to bicker with each other and perform simple tasks. Rik was still doing his self pity act and being nasty to everybody. The women in the group approached one of the older men and asked him to speak to Rik about his offensive attitude and his body odour. As usual Rik couldn’t help it, it was how he was, people would have to make allowances. The older man, James Hewitt pointed out that Rik might try making allowances for others and acquaint himself with the science of soap. Then threatened with a walk out the producers asked Rik to leave.

Simon Cowell’s show over there is called American Idol. I have noticed that some contestants with weight problems have done well in the past so there is obviously no prejudice, but does America want or need an idol who is anything like Rik Waller. I think it is attitude Simon looks at and if someone walks in with the attitude that they deserve special consideration for any reason, they are going to get roughed up.

The year after Rik's unfortunate appearance The X Factor was won by Michelle McManus who is a very big girl. Michelle took advice before and after winning, slimmed down from three hundred and fidty to below two hundred and fifty pounds, got healthy (it can be exhausting on the road musicians have told me) and has made a career for herself. She has waited two years but is now ready for the punishing schedule of touring that is needed to build a lasting career in music. And she is still losing weight.

Last year on The X - Factor, a very big black woman, Brenda, won through to the final stages. Now Brenda is not obese but she is big, one of those African women who carry their weight well. Truly big and beautiful in fact. Also she had a fine natural voice but no idea how to deliver a song. Despite not winning Brenda was offered a recording contract, has worked with voice coaches, fitness specialists, nutritionists and all the rest. She is still big and always will be. She is still beautiful and fit enough to sing for an ninety minutes night after night. She entered the show as someone with a raw talent and was willing to listen to people whose job was to help her refine that talent.

Brenda, like Michelle has a career.

People now say Rik who?

It is OK being sympathetic to someone with problems but being indulgent is not necessarily doing them a favour.

Simon now says of Rik, "I wish I had stuck with what I originally said to him, you have a great voice - go away, lose a lot of weight and come back next year.