Former "American Idol" judge, Simon Cowell's sexual orientation was put on the spotlight when a taped conversation between Gareth Varey and a certain Mazher Mahmood, claiming that Cowell was a gay person, was presented in a U.K. courtroom. 

The said recording was played in a trial that does not directly involve the popular TV reality show judge reports E! Online. Varey used to be the manager of former "X-Factor" judge, Tulisa Contostavlos.

Mirror UK transcribed the conversation as follows:

"When Mr Mahmood asked Mr Varey off camera if Contostavlos' fellow X Factor judge was gay, he replied: 'Yes'.

Mr Mahmood then asked: 'Have you slept with him?', Mr Varey replied: 'No'.

Asked why he had not, Mr Varey said: 'One day I will when I make my move'.

Mr Mahmood said: 'Do you fancy him or not?'

Mr Varey answered: 'No'. Mr Mahmood then asked: 'How do you know he's gay?'

Mr Varey responded: 'I know people who have'". 

As a response to the controversial inclusion of the 54-year-old talent competition judge's name in the trial, Cowell's attorneys shared a statement which read as follows:

"Simon was referred to during the trial without forewarning, resulting in widespread media coverage of untrue claims regarding his private life. In 2014 the question of whether someone is or is not gay is antiquated. (As it happens he isn't, though if he were, he would simply have said so). However, the issue was the false suggestion made by Mr. Varey that Simon - who is renowned for his honesty and candidness - had thus not been truthful in the public arena and this is what we have been obliged to clarify."

What The Drug Trial Was Really About

The controversial drug trial that started all the Simon Cowell gay rumors actually involved English singer-songwriter, Contostavlos.

It was on June 4, 2013 when the 26-year-old Contostavlos was arrested on suspicions of being a supplier of class A drugs.

She was eventually given unconditional bail before appearing at the Southwark Crown Court on January 9, 2014. During the July 14, 2014 trial, she confessed that she used cannabis just to aid her to sleep well.

The case was eventually dismissed after the judge believed that Mazher Mahmood lied to the court.

Cowell as First Time Dad

Meanwhile, the Brit judge who has been loved and hated by many around the world, became a first time father to his son, Eric, on Valentine's Day.

Cowell is not the first celebrity who has been bombarded with gay rumors as many other Hollywood hunks have also been subjected to such speculations.