Ellen DeGeneres: Simon Cowell Is ‘Meaner Than I Thought’

Ellen DeGeneres, the newest judge on “American Idol,” says Simon Cowell is “meaner” than she thought.

Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and various guest judges kicked off the ninth season of the Fox singing competition last month. DeGeneres begins her stint Tuesday night.

In a video posted on the show’s Web site, DeGeneres says Cowell is “actually meaner than I thought. It’s hard to listen to him tell people things and for me not to go, ‘You poor thing!’”

Cowell has announced that he’s leaving “Idol” after this season. Paula Abdul left over a salary dispute.

DeGeneres says no one has given her advice on judging — “they’re just letting me do what I want to do.”