Simon Cowell has at last addressed the slightly alarming and awkward moment on last weekend’s ‘The X Factor’, where many thought he had flashed the camera during a possible wardrobe malfunction.

Turns out, the audience was actually looking at “very large toe”, according to the music mogul, and not his (ahem) little Simon.

#ToeGate happened on Saturday night’s episode (October 1st) during the Judges’ Houses round, as he lounged in a rather awkward position on a sofa between Spice Girls Mel B and Emma Bunton with his left foot bent so that his bare foot was up against his right thigh.

Simon CowellSimon Cowell appeared to have a wardrobe malfunction during Judges' Houses

Unfortunately, Cowell was then roundly mocked on social media by eagle-eyed viewers as it appeared that his manhood might have flopped out of his trousers…

Appearing on Sunday night’s edition of ‘The Xtra Factor’, the accompanying spin-off show, he clarified the situation.

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“Before anything else I want to clear up toe-gate. It was just my toe. It was quite embarrassing when I saw it online but it was just my toe. I have a very large toe.”

Even Cowell’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ colleague David Walliams joined in the fun on Twitter, tweeting a TV screen-grab of the picture with the caption “So nice to see ‘Little Simon’ again.”

Meanwhile, ‘The X Factor’s fans are still up in arms about what some claim are ‘fixing’ issues with the current series, with a number of contestants found to have had singing careers already, plus the continued presence of aspiring rapper Honey G – whom many have dismissed as a novelty act – making it this far into the series.

The live shows for ‘The X Factor’ 2016 begin next Saturday (October 8th).

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