October 22nd 2024.
Simon Cowell, the famous music mogul, has reappeared in the public eye after a long absence. However, there are no recent pictures of him at the event. Instead, the image used is from a photocall for America's Got Talent last month. It's been a difficult time for Cowell, who had taken a break from Britain's Got Talent after receiving some tragic news last week. Liam Payne, a close friend of Cowell's, passed away at the age of 31 after falling from a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 16th.
But despite his grief, Cowell made an appearance at the 2024 Pride of Britain Awards on Monday night. The 65-year-old father-of-one, who shares a son named Eric with his partner Lauren Silverman, had previously shared on Instagram that he was feeling "empty" and "devastated" by Payne's death. Understandably, he chose not to walk the red carpet and instead went straight to the event held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London. His purpose for attending was to pay tribute to his friend Peter Willis, a journalist and former Mirror Editor who created the Pride of Britain Awards in 1999 to celebrate the nation's unsung heroes. On stage, Cowell spoke about Willis' achievements and the impact he had made.
In the midst of this tragedy, Cowell had also canceled the filming for Britain's Got Talent. The production company, Applause Store, released a statement explaining that the auditions in Blackpool had been postponed due to Payne's passing. However, filming resumed on Saturday at the Blackpool Winter Gardens, although Cowell was not present. Instead, Bruno Tonioli was brought in to cover for him. Tonioli had previously been replaced on the show by YouTuber KSI, who had left to fulfill other filming commitments with Dancing With The Stars in the US. Despite Cowell's absence, judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, along with guest judge KSI, continued with the programme.
Cowell's history with One Direction, the band Payne was a part of, dates back to when Payne was just 14 years old. He had auditioned for The X Factor and made it to the Judges' Houses stage with Cowell. However, he was advised to come back in two years. And that's exactly what he did in 2010, where he was placed in a band with Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles. They finished in third place and were later signed by Cowell's label, Syco Entertainment. One Direction then rose to become one of the most successful boy bands in history, with hits like What Makes You Beautiful, Night Changes, and Steal My Girl. However, the group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016 as they pursued their solo careers.
In light of Payne's passing, Cowell took to social media to share a tribute for his friend. He expressed his devastation and heartbreak, describing Payne as kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, and focused. Cowell recalled how he had told Payne at the age of 14 that it wasn't his time yet, but they had made a promise to meet again. And just months later, the whole world knew Liam Payne. Cowell also mentioned how much Payne cared for his fans, as he would always take the time to meet and interact with them. Cowell also shared that he and Payne had recently reminisced about the fun times they had shared and how his son, Bear, had a twinkle in his eye just like Payne.
In another interview, Payne had credited Cowell for helping his romance with Cheryl, who had recently released her own statement about Payne's passing, blossom. The former couple had dated for two years from 2016 and welcomed their son Bear into the world together. Payne had shared how Cowell had made a joke about how attractive Cheryl was, and Simon had even predicted that she would be the next Mrs. Payne. Later, Simon had mentioned Payne's name in front of Cheryl, causing her to blush and quickly leave the room.
Payne's autopsy is still ongoing, but sources have confirmed that several drugs were found in his system at the time of his death. The late star was staying at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the local police are currently investigating his death. The Pride of Britain Awards organizers have been contacted for a statement. The awards ceremony will be airing on Thursday at 8 pm on ITV. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency. You can email, call, or visit their Submit Stuff page. They'd love to hear from you.
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