SINITTA: MY SEX ATTACK HELL AT COWELL HOME
Simon confronts singer ex’s abuser Her ‘terrifying’ Riviera ordeal
TEARFUL pop star Sinitta told yesterday how a sex attacker pounced on her in Simon Cowell’s holiday villa.
Sinitta, 54, said the guest pinned her down on a bed and she “fought him off ”. Horrified Cowell later confronted the man at a villa on the French Riviera.
SIMON Cowell angrily confronted a sex attacker who pounced on former girlfriend Sinitta in his holiday villa, the Irish Sunday Mirror sensationally reveals today.
The X Factor guru was furious after the singer, 54, told him how the guest pulled her on to a bed – and she had to “fight him off ”.
She says the man sneered: “Oh – is that what Simon’s into then? You taking charge?”
Sinitta told Cowell, 58, what happened and the shocked X Factor guru tackled the friend.
In what she described as an “aggressive conversation”, Cowell said: “Don’t ever put your f***ing hands on her again.”
The astonishing incident came while Cowell and Sinitta were on the French Riviera at the height of his fame.
SPRAWLING
She revealed the harrowing episode in a two-part interview which continues in the Irish Daily Mirror tomorrow.
Sinitta, speaking with Cowell’s blessing at her London home yesterday, said she was showing the guest around the rented villa when things turned sour.
The So Macho singer – who is undergoing counselling after being targeted by sexual predators – told us: “We had different friends coming out. One weekend a man came to stay. At the end of a lovely day of drinks and things, Simon asked me to show him to one of the guest rooms.
“But the villa was huge and sprawling so I thought ‘let him choose which room he likes best’ because they were mostly vacant.
“I took him on a tour of the house and showed him this room and that room. He passed on a lot of rooms with a view. But when we got to the basement – far from everyone – he said ‘Oh, I like this one. I like this one’. He threw himself on the bed with his hand behind his head and was like ‘yep, yep, this one is fine for me’. “I was like: ‘Really? With no view, no windows? But if this is the one you like then so be it. Sleep well and I’ll see you in the morning’.
“I leaned over to say goodbye to him with a kiss on the cheek. He grabbed me, pulled me down on top of him and was suddenly on top of me on the bed.”
Sinitta said the situation was “really awkward” because he was a very influential man.
She went on: “I was shocked but even at the moment I recall playing in my head: ‘Has there been anything about my behaviour or my demeanour that has made this man think that I am interested in him?’ “The answer was definitely
NO. I had to get away from him. I was struggling with him a bit but trying not to seem panicked. I fought with him and edged my way from under him.,
“He could tell I was fighting him off but wouldn’t let me go.
REVOLTING
“I managed to wriggle out from underneath and got to my feet and said: ‘What are you thinking’? But he was just smiling and sneering.
“He kind of smiled at me, kind of liking it. He said: ‘Oh is that what Simon’s into then? You taking charge?’ I was just thinking ‘you revolting person’.”
Sinitta said she backed out of the room and ran as fast as she could to speak with Simon in his bedroom. She added: “I was panting, out of breath, thinking I can’t believe that just happened. But also thinking what kind of man tries to force himself on his host’s girl?
“I told Simon what happened. He was stunned. It was awful.”
Sinitta said Cowell confronted the guest the next day.
She recalled: “Simon walked him to his car. They shook hands then Simon pulled him in.
“You could see there was an aggressive conversation going on. When he’s angry his lips go really thin. He’s a composed person most of the time.
“He came back and said: ‘I
told him not to ever put his f***ing hands on you again.’”
Sinitta claimed the man has “done things to other people” too and added: “It’s terrifying because he is powerful, influential and who knows what the repercussions are for me.
“But I’m tired of being afraid, tired of smiling, tired of keeping other people’s dirty secrets. I’m not doing it any more.”
Then, with a steely gaze, she issued a direct message to her attacker, saying: “You know who you are. I’ve heard you’ve bragged about this story but exaggerated it and acted like you got more than you got. But you didn’t and you never will. I am not hiding away any longer.”
Sinitta has considered going to police but remains scared of playing out her ordeal in court.
She feels empowered to finally speak out by the Me Too movement in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
And she will reveal further details about her ordeal in a vook – video book – on her website. Sinitta said the incident will live with her for ever. And the star – who adopted two children in 2007 when married to Andy Willner – praised Cowell for his support.
STRENGTH
She went on: “Simon has been my guardian angel. It is a complicated relationship that we have and I know people don’t always understand it.
“We have got together, split up, now we’re godparents to each other’s children. I see him like a brother. He’s given me the confidence to keep going. I wouldn’t have that strength if he wasn’t in my corner.
“I’d like to say anyone who has been affected by the same experience that I have to speak to a friend, a family member or a charity like Mind. I’m going to counselling around this.
“I still find it hard to talk about this, which I don’t fully understand as it wasn’t my fault. Women should be able to live their lives how they wish, without fear of being taken advantage of by powerful men.”
Yesterday a source close to dad-of-one Cowell said: “He fully supports Sinitta speaking out. They remain close friends.”
Since the attack, Sinitta, who is releasing a new single next week called Shine With Pride, has encountered her abuser on multiple occasions but refuses to be intimidated.
Sinitta also addressed what she believes is an unfair public perception of her, adding: “People say I shouldn’t dress like I do, but that’s me. I’m single but I still want to date. I’d like to meet a man and get married again.
“I’ve never had a one night stand. If I don’t know you I don’t want to have sex with you. To be treated like a slut is hurtful.
“I want to be able to deal with it and shake it off. I don’t want them to think they have any power over me – they don’t.”