Were Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest friends before American Idol?

Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest were not friends before "American Idol." Their relationship began when Seacrest was hired as the host for the show in 2002, while Cowell was one of the judges. Over the years, they developed a professional rapport, and while they often had differing personalities and styles, they maintained a cordial relationship throughout the show's run.