On Friday, Simon Cowell released a statement regarding Liam Payne’s death.
Liam, a former member of One Direction, died on Oct. 16 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the age of 31. The Associated Press reported that the singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel in the Palermo neighborhood of the capital.
Simon helped create One Direction, which consisted of bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik in 2010 on The X Factor.
Following One Direction’s joint statement and the individual statements of each bandmate—Harry, Niall, Louis, and Zayn—Simon issued his own statement and expressed how he’s navigating the devastating loss.
“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” he began in his Oct. 18 Instagram post. “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.”
“This is so difficult to put in words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together” Simon continued. “I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”
Liam initially competed on The X Factor in 2008 as a solo artist. Two years later, he returned and was placed in One Direction.
“I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time,” Simon reminisced. “And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam.”
He continued, “And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.”
Simon reflected when Liam, who shares 7-year-old son Bear Grey Payne with ex Cheryl Cole, visited him in 2023. “We reminisced about all of the fun time we had together,” he wrote. “And how proud you were to be a Dad.” Simon said that time together reminded him how Liam was the “sweet, kind boy” he met all those years ago on The X Factor.
He noted his son, Bear, has Liam’s smile and that same “twinkle” in his eyes. “And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it.”
Simon concluded his tribute by stating he thought of the five members of One Direction as brothers. “And reading their messages today, I believe you were,” he said. “And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon. Rest in peace my friend. And I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family.”
