American/Pop Idol judge slams Madonna

LONDON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Simon Cowell, the acerbic judge of Britain's "Pop Idol" and "American Idol" in the United States, says Madonna "used to be good looking."

"Britney is cute, isn't she? Beyonce is good-looking, Jennifer Lopez is. Madonna used to be," Cowell said, reported the BBC on the eve of the season premiere of "American Idol."

When Cowell's fellow "American Idol" judges groaned, Cowell then insulted a major demographic of the popular FOX show, saying, "She's a housewife!"