October 18th 2024.
Simon Cowell has shared a touching statement following the tragic passing of Liam Payne at the young age of 31. The news of Payne's death shocked the world on Wednesday, as it was announced that he had fallen off a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cowell, who first met Payne when he was just 14 and auditioned for The X Factor, paid tribute to the singer on Instagram.
The music mogul revealed that he had advised Payne to return two years later after not making it to the live shows during his first audition. Payne took this advice and was placed into a group, later known as One Direction, with Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. Cowell chose to remember the time they spent together and Payne's character in his heartfelt post.
Cowell expressed his devastation, heartbreak, and emptiness at losing someone he had grown to love and respect over the years. He recalled the moments they had shared together and how he would always describe Payne to others as kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, and focused. He also highlighted Payne's love for music and the fans, and how he never forgot to show his appreciation for them.
The 65-year-old mentioned the promise they made to meet again after Payne's first audition, and how he never gave up on his dream. Within months, the whole world knew who Liam Payne was, and he continued to remain humble and kind towards his fans. Cowell also shared a personal memory of Payne visiting him last year, not for a meeting, but just to chat and reminisce about their time together. He was reminded of the sweet and kind boy he had met all those years ago, and how proud Payne was to be a father.
Cowell also expressed his belief that the members of One Direction were like brothers, and how Payne's passing has affected so many people. He ended his post by sending his love, thoughts, and prayers to Payne's family. Shortly after sharing the tribute, Cowell deleted it and then re-posted it with the comments feature turned off.
Payne joined One Direction at the age of 16 in 2010 after finishing third on The X Factor. Despite not winning the competition, they were signed by Cowell's music label Syco Entertainment, and their hits, such as "What Makes You Beautiful," "Story of My Life," and "Night Changes," made them global stars. The group decided to go on an indefinite hiatus in 2016 to pursue solo careers.
In the wake of Payne's death, filming for Britain's Got Talent was canceled, and Cowell will reportedly be replaced by Bruno Tonioli when it resumes on Saturday. The judges, including Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and guest judge KSI, will continue filming for the ITV series, with Cowell taking time off to grieve.
Payne once spoke about how Cowell played a role in his relationship with Cheryl, which ultimately led to the birth of their son, Bear. He recounted a time when he made a joke about how attractive Cheryl was at Simon's house, and Simon replied, "I know who's going to be the next Mrs. Payne!" It was also revealed that Cheryl had a crush on Payne after Simon mentioned his name to her.
Payne's former bandmates have also shared their special memories and relationships with him on social media. The news of Payne's death has shocked and saddened many, and if you have a story to share, please get in touch with us. Our entertainment team can be reached via email, phone, or through our Submit Stuff page. We would love to hear from you.
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