Rebecca Black's Biggest Fan – Simon Cowell!

By Dahvi Shira

03/18/2011 at 07:00 PM EDT

Rebecca Black can wipe away her tears.

The "cyber-bullied" YouTube sensation, 13, who sings the much-mocked "Friday," impressed none other than Simon Cowell.

"I love her [and] the fact that she's gotten so much publicity," the X Factor creator, 51, told PEOPLE on Friday. "People are so upset about the song, but I think it's hysterical."

So how big a fan is Cowell?



"I want to meet her," he says. "Anyone who can create this much controversy within a week, I want to meet. I love people like that."

The X Factor, which is set to premiere on Fox in the U.S. in the fall – the first announced judge is Antonio "L.A." Reid – is holding auditions in Miami, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago. There's a $5 million recording contract up for grabs for the winner of the show.

Go here to sign up.