Simon Cowell Shares Rare Photo of Lookalike Son Eric, 11, on 'America's Got Talent' Set

The music mogul stunned fans with a glimpse into his private life this week by sharing a sweet father-son moment that had tongues wagging.

On Thursday, August 28, Simon Cowell posted a rare Instagram photo with his 11-year-old son, Eric, on the set of "America's Got Talent" (AGT). Observers quickly gushed over Eric's striking resemblance to his famous dad, while others couldn't help but zoom in on Cowell's rumored facial changes.

In the photo, Eric is seen wearing a blue "AGT" shirt, smiling with his arm around his dad, who is wearing his signature gray T-shirt while petting a dog curled up on his lap. "Everyone's happy," Cowell captioned the post, which also featured a video of the audience cheering and another shot of the longtime judge on set.

Fans quickly flocked to the comment section with explosive takes. One fan gushed with warmth, "Wow, Simon, Eric is all grown up, best wishes." Another admirer echoed the sentiment, "Hey Simon!!!! Eric is the image of you. Wow, he's so grown up!!! Lovely to see xx."

Plenty of others chimed in on Eric's resemblance to his dad, with one saying, "He looks so much like you!! Handsome boy," and another agreeing, "Eric is very handsome...ur [sic] twin!" Specific features stood out too — one fan noted, "He's got Simon's nose," while another added, "He has is mom eyes [sic]."

Not everyone agreed, though. One person insisted, "Eric is the double of his mam, not his dad. His dad doesn't look like himself anymore [sic] 😂!" Other people chimed in with playful remarks such as, "Simon doesn't look like Simon. 😂" and sharper critiques like, "Simon Cowell really didn't need a [sic] plastic surgery."

Others were more blunt, writing, "The plastic surgeries are destroying him. Sad." An individual was more specific, penning, "Simon whom ever did your eye surgeries really messed them up!! You looked great before and now I'm sorry but it really hurt your looks! [sic]"

Cowell and fiancée Lauren Silverman welcomed their son Eric in 2014. To announce his arrival, Cowell posted a tender black-and-white image of the newborn lying on his chest. He captioned it with raw emotion, "I never knew how much love and pride I would feel."

He named Eric after his late father, who passed in 1999. His mother, Julie Cowell, died in 2015. After losing both parents, Simon once believed he'd never feel that kind of love again, until a sonogram flipped his world upside down.

He felt this deep love when he saw his son's scan for the first time. Cowell affectionately nicknamed him "Tad," saying the image reminded him of a little tadpole. With both parents gone, Simon Cowell was going through a dark period, but said that becoming a father pulled him out of it.

He described the love he felt for Eric as something that returned to him a hundred times stronger than before, giving him a sense of joy and grounding he hadn't expected.

"I mean, it's extraordinary, and it never goes. So I didn't expect that, and when it happened, it was like, 'Wow.' I mean, it's incredible," he gushed.

Today, he cannot imagine life without Eric, describing him as the most amazing thing that has ever happened to him.

As Eric has grown, Cowell has enjoyed introducing him to many of the things he loves most, including spending time outdoors, biking, being around dogs, and even joining him at work on "AGT."

Eric often accompanies his father to live tapings in Pasadena, California, where Cowell says the experience of judging has taken on a new meaning. Cowell, who began seeing performances through his son's eyes, wondered whether Eric and his friends would enjoy the acts.

According to him, watching Eric and his friends have such a great time at the shows has been one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Take a look at Eric Cowell's transformation over the years.

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