Simon Cowell will be absent from the live show America’s Got Talent for a few weeks as he undergoes back surgery.
During the August 25 episode of the talent competition, host Terry Crews explained that Simon needed to undergo a medical procedure that could not be delayed.
"He's having an operation that cannot be postponed," he said as reported by USA Today.
He added: "It's not an emergency, but it can't be put off. Simon, we are sending you our very best wishes for a speedy recovery, and we're looking forward to seeing you back at the judges' desk very soon."
According to a report by Entertainment Weekly, a representative for Simon assured fans that the procedure is routine and that he is expected to return to the show in a few weeks.
"Obviously medical matters are private but it’s routine and he will be back in a few weeks," the representative said.
Simon previously suffered a serious back injury in August 2020 after falling off an electric bike while testing it in the courtyard of his Malibu home with his family.
On his then-Twitter account, now known as X, Simon reminded his followers to take precautions when using an electric bike.
"Some good advice... If you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time. I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages," he wrote.
In a 2021 interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Simon looked back on the accident and recalled how close he came to suffering an even more serious injury.
"I was a millimeter away from breaking my spine, which would’ve been a disaster,” he revealed.
He added: “In a weird way, it was kind of meant to happen because I was really pushing my luck. I was buying these crazy, crazy bikes and this particular bike I bought had so much power, I was thrown about eight feet in the air, landed on my back, in front of Eric (his son), by the way.”