Simon Cowell, a pivotal figure in the rise of One Direction, has expressed his sorrow over the death of former band member Liam Payne. In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Cowell reflected on the profound impact Payne had on him and those around him.
“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” Cowell wrote. “Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.”
Cowell went on to describe Payne as a multifaceted individual. “What is Liam like? I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans,” he noted.
The two last met in 2023, not for a professional discussion but simply to reconnect. “We reminisced about all of the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a Dad,” Cowell recalled. “After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all of those years ago.”
Cowell shared that he had met Payne’s 7-year-old son, Bear, describing the child as having “your smile and that twinkle in his eyes you have. And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it.”
He also reflected on the bond shared among the members of One Direction. “I always thought of the five of you in the band as brothers. And reading their messages today, I believe you were,” he wrote, referring to the touching tributes shared by Payne’s bandmates.
Cowell concluded his statement with a poignant remark about the impact Payne had on the world. “And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.”
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Payne died at the age of 31 on Wednesday following a fall from a third-story balcony at his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Local authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death, and details are still emerging.
In light of Payne’s passing, the auditions for “Britain’s Got Talent,” where Cowell serves as a judge, were canceled. A spokesperson for producer Fremantle U.K. stated, “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, we have decided to postpone the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ auditions. Our thoughts are with Liam’s friends, family, and all who loved him.”
Cowell’s connection with Payne began in 2008 when the singer auditioned for “The X Factor.” Although Cowell initially dismissed him from the competition, he welcomed Payne back in 2010 to form One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan. Despite finishing in third place on the show, Cowell signed the group to his Syco Records imprint.
Reflecting on his decision to sign One Direction, Cowell told Billboard in 2012, “I’ve done this long enough that everything in music and entertainment is cyclical. [Even if] you go back to the Motown days, every time, it always comes back to 12 o’clock. It felt like that time again.”
