Simon Cowell and Ms. Ellen Talk Gay on Idol

In an upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekley, Cowell and the newest addition to the judging table discuss everything from homophobia on the show to the "gay" banter between Cowell and host Ryan Secrest.

"While Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres haven’t had a lot of time to spend together since DeGeneres signed on as the newest American Idol judge last September — he’s been in London shooting The X-Factor, while she’s been in LA working on her Emmy-winning talk show — the duo have no problem being honest with each other about their relationship as soon-to-be coworkers.

“Simon really is, in my opinion, mean to people sometimes,” says DeGeneres, who makes her first appearance on Idol when Hollywood Week kicks off on Feb. 9. “So I think I’ll be hard [as a judge], but if he’s rude, I’m going to let him know he’s rude.”

“And I may disagree with you,” Cowell retorts. “If everything is ‘After you,’ ‘No, after you,’ that’s uncomfortable.”