A spokesperson for SIMON COWELL has shot down reports the music mogul has hired computer hackers to hide negative stories on the internet.
The former American Idol judge was said to have recruited experts to promote stories painting him in a good light to the top of search engine result lists.
The Brit was also rumoured to have asked them to monitor the web for any scathing reviews or comments and to hide them.
But Cowell's representative Ann-Marie Thomson has laughed off the speculation, insisting she's "humoured by the ridiculous story" and branding it "complete and utter rubbish".