Tidbits: Simon Hopes his Song Tops “We Are the World”

Cowell said to want to go head to head with Quincy Jones

Not even a good cause can quell Simon Cowell’s competitive drive. The “American Idol” judge and music exec recently coordinated an all-star single to benefit Haitian earthquake victims. Now he’s ready to take on his next challenge: ensuring that his production of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” featuring Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus and many others, outsells Quincy Jones’ new star-studded rendition of “We Are the World.”

“Simon is competitive about everything he does,” a friend revealed to PopEater.com. “He has to clean his teeth better than anyone, he has to earn more money than anyone — and he is determined that his single to benefit Haiti has to outsell Quincy Jones’ record.”

Of course, in the case of a charity challenge, a good-natured contest simply means more of a good thing. But Cowell’s quick to admit crushing the competition is just as important to him with or without a cause.

“I don’t like the idea that other people in this business might be doing better than me,” Cowell confessed in an interview with New! Magazine. “That really bugs me — I mean really bugs me. If you are happy to see someone who does the same thing as you do well — even someone within your own company — then you haven’t got it, it’s as simple as that!”

Wolf takes swipe at Lautner
“New Moon” star Alex Meraz turned his back on the pack Wednesday night when he took a swipe at “The Twilight Saga’s” teen sensation, Taylor Lautner. Without even having seen Lautner’s latest on-screen effort, Meraz took to his Twitter account to tear it apart.

“Sorry Taylor, but the movie ‘Valentine’s Day’ looks lame and desperate,” Meraz tweeted. “It cries out, ‘Look we have all the biggest starz in 1 movie. Pleez watch!’ ”

Evidently, Meraz soon realized a slam against his better-known co-star might not have been in his own best interest.

“P.S. It has nothing to do with the talented actors in the movie,” the 25-year-old wrote. “I just don't like the producer & directors’ ‘get rich quick skeem.’ Nuff said.”

Well, not quite “nuff said,” as Meraz later thought better of his producer and director bashing, too. After all, he never intended to tweet his way out of a future job opportunity.

“Talk about biting the hand that feeds me,” the actor added before finally settling on a humorous exit strategy. “But I'm a wolf for crying out loud! I'll be careful next time I spill twitter all over everyone.”

Dish on the fly
Looking back on his controversial 2009 “American Music Awards” performance, Adam Lambert has just one regret. No, it’s not the same-sex kiss that earned him so much attention or any of the outrageous behavior blurred out in subsequent showings. For the “American Idol” alum, it’s all about the music. “The one regret I have is, I wish I had sung it better,” Lambert told The Times Online. … With Valentine’s Day just over a week away, actor Ashton Kutcher felt the time was right to reveal his best relationship advice. “I think one thing sort of defines (a relationship) which is, it's not how much you love someone when you love them, but it's how much you love them when you hate them,” Kutcher shared in an interview with Parade magazine. “It's when you're in that moment where you cannot stand what the person you're with is doing, but you still love them. That's when you need to show it — not just say it but show it. You need to take some action. The biggest mistake that most of the women that I know make in relationships is listening to what the guys says. Guys talk the talk, but 90 percent of guys don't walk the walk. When things get tough it's not what you say, it's about what you do.”

Tabloid Tidbits is compiled by Ree Hines. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ReeHines

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