‘American
Idol” creator Simon Fuller’s week has gone from bad to worse.
Hot on the heels of “Idol” judge Simon Cowell’s Monday announcement that he is leaving the No. 1 TV show at the end of this season, reports have surfaced that Fuller was robbed to the tune of nearly $100,000 worth of valuables while on vacation in Uruguay.
According to the newspaper El Pais, the residence that Fuller and his wife, Natalie Swanston, were staying at, called “Villa Lobos,” in the upscale Punta del Este resort, was burgled early last Thursday.
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When the couple returned home at 1 a.m., Fuller noticed that a side door was open and that thieves had used a crowbar to remove a safe located under a table in the bathroom.
While the couple was out on the town, thieves made off with a Cartier watch with a gold and diamond bracelet, a diamond and sapphire-encrusted gold chain, gold earrings, a gold Cartier ring, a Montblanc pen and load of cash. The haul added up to $98,600. Both Fuller and Swanston’s passports were also stolen.
All the jewels were insured.
It’s reported that Fuller waited 12 hours to report the theft and that he hadn’t activated the home security system alarm — both things that initially drew the suspicion of investigators.
He also tried to prevent the crime scene investigators — who, police sources said, didn’t know who Fuller was — from working at his house.
“I don’t want any more police,” Fuller was quoted as telling the officers on the scene.
“I don’t want the robbery to end [up] in the press. I don’t want [the] exposure.”
When the police reported this to a judge, the judge said that the famous producer and his wife just wanted privacy.
Meanwhile, in his professional life, the Los Angeles Times is reporting that Fuller may be looking into getting a corporate gig — as CEO — of 19 Entertainment’s parent company, CKX Inc.