Viewers of Saturday Night Takeaway have criticized Simon Cowell for ‘setting a bad example’ after a prank by Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly on their ITV show.

The long-running Saturday night show returned for its 20th series, and to mark the occasion, Ant and Dec pulled a prank on Britain’s Got Talent boss while he served as a judge on America’s Got Talent.

Despite eliciting laughter from many, some viewers expressed concern that Cowell was not wearing appropriate safety gear while riding his bike during the prank.

The 64-year-old X Factor mogul was captured cycling without a helmet when he was stopped by a fake police officer during his morning ride, accusing him of fabricated offenses. Many viewers found the absence of safety gear concerning and expressed their discomfort on social media platforms like X.

One X user pointed out that after Simon’s e-bike accident, wearing a helmet would be imperative. They posted:

“Currently watching #SaturdayNightTakeaway and I’m surprised to see Simon Cowell, a person who injured himself badly on an e-bike, not wearing a helmet. This is him genuinely out for a normal bike ride, pre-shenanigans. Look after yourselves, everyone! Wear a helmet lol.”

Another had similar thoughts as they posted about Simon’s lack of protective equipment:

“Considering the guy has had accidents on his bike; breaking his back, his arm…. and other injuries, im surprised at the lack of protective gear or even a helmet…..??”

A third person took aim at Simon, especially with younger viewers watching the show:

“Simon cycling without a helmet as well. Not setting a good example”.

Upon viewing the video back in the Saturday Night Takeaway studio, Simon promptly acknowledged his mistake. He revealed to Ant and Dec that even his son, Eric, had questioned the absence of a helmet. Simon recounted Eric’s morning query before the prank, asking him,

“Aren’t you going to wear a helmet?”

Simon confessed that he had initially lied to his son, assuring him he would wear a helmet before changing his mind. He swiftly apologized while addressing the camera.

Viewers had previously referenced an accident in August 2020 in Malibu, California, where Simon fell from his electric bike, requiring extensive surgery for a broken back and other injuries. Simon emphasized his gratitude for surviving the accident, acknowledging his fortunate outcome.