Simon Cowell Breaks Silence on Liam Payne’s Death
Simon Cowell, Britain’s Got Talent judge, and mastermind behind One Direction, has broken his silence on Liam Payne’s tragic death. On Friday, the media mogul posted a heartfelt tribute for his former mentee, in which he said he “felt empty.”
“Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you,” he wrote. “Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.”
Cowell first met Payne as a 14-year-old contestant on the talent show, X-Factor, but not much came from that. It was only when Payne appeared on the show for a second time in 2010, did Cowell put the five boys together and create One Direction.
Despite not winning the show that year, the newly-formed band signed onto Cowell’s record label. One Direction went on to create five studio albums, sell 70 million records, and amass a huge mostly millennial and Gen-Z following.
On Friday, Cowell addressed what he would tell fans when they asked him about Liam. “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.”
Was Payne Troubled?
Payne tragically fell from a third-story balcony last Wednesday, while he was in Argentina attending the concert of former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan. He is survived by his son “Bear”, who he had with his ex-girlfriend Cheryl.
While some reports suggest he jumped, others suggest it may have been an accident.
The Argentine police were called to the hotel earlier that evening in response to an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” One autopsy report suggests that he was either in a fully or semi-unconscious state at the time.
Several old videos also surfaced on social media, which purport to show Payne behaving “erratically,” with some fans calling it a plea for help. The hotel staff raised similar concerns during a 911 call moments before the singer’s death.
Payne had publicly struggled with alcohol issues in the past. But in a YouTube video from 2023, he spoke about spending 100 days in rehab, and that he was sober.
Still, the shocking death has revived a raging debate about the lives of young celebrities — and whether they received enough support to deal with the pressures of fame. Much of this anger was directed towards Cowell, who some fans suggest didn’t do enough.
The day after Payne’s death, a “heartbroken” Cowell canceled upcoming auditions for Britain’s Got Talent in Blackpool. The Sun suggests that the record executive may soon step down as a judge, and be replaced by Strictly Come Dancing’s Bruno Tonioli.
