Cowell brands Beyoncé unsexy and talentless

Simon Cowell has slammed Beyoncé Knowles - saying she doesn't have the looks or talent to be a star.

The acid-tongued 'American Idol' judge says he can't understand why the Destiny's Child beauty is one of world's biggest stars.

He said: "I find the whole Beyoncé thing really mystifying. She's not sexy, she hasn't got a great body and she's not a great singer."

However, the record producer has defended Ashlee Simpson, saying she was right to mime on her recent performance on 'Saturday Night Live'.

He said in an interview with America's Esquire magazine: "Why should you have to do something substandard just for the sake of being real? If it sounds better with the vocal you recorded, why shouldn't people listen to that? There's almost a witch-hunt mentality about people miming."

Meanwhile, Simon was branded an "a**" by Paula Abdul after he reduced a host of pop hopefuls to tears on the new series of 'American Idol'.

The music mogul was also punched by Paula on the first episode of the hit TV talent show after a series of cruel jibes.