Simon Cowell has opened up about the moment he learned of Liam Payne’s tragic death, after some fans and former X Factor contestants pointed fingers at him for the singer’s demise.
Liam Payne, a former member of One Direction, passed away in November last year after a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. He had been grappling with substance abuse and mental health issues for years.
Payne’s musical journey began on the UK’s X Factor in 2010 when Simon Cowell, a renowned record executive and TV judge, identified his talent. Cowell brought five young solo singers together to form One Direction, a group that went on to sell 70 million records and achieve 21 billion streams.
A preliminary coroner’s report suggests that Liam died due to ‘polytrauma,’ resulting from several severe injuries caused by his fall from a third-floor balcony. The inquest has been postponed until May 2026, with investigations continuing in Argentina to uncover the circumstances surrounding his death.
During a podcast released by the New York Times, Cowell, now 66, recounted the moment in October 2024 when he learned about Payne’s death. He was in the north of England when a close colleague delivered the heartbreaking news.
“Somebody who works with me very closely came into my room,” Cowell recalled. “I was up in the north of England, and I could tell by the look of her face that she was upset. She said, ‘Sit down,’ and she told me.”
Despite the criticism directed at Cowell regarding his role in Payne’s rise to fame, he expressed his devastation upon receiving the news.
“It was like — wow,” he said. “It was a bit like I felt when I heard the news when my dad passed away. It’s very difficult to put into words how you feel. It’s just shock.”
Having known the members of One Direction since their teenage years, Cowell’s immediate instinct was to reach out to Payne’s family.
“At that point, you’re not really thinking clearly. I just remember saying: ‘I really need to speak to his mum and dad. Can you get them on the phone as soon as possible please?’” Cowell said.
In another interview, Cowell dismissed any accusations of blame for the 31-year-old’s death, emphasizing that he could not be held accountable.
“I don’t read any of this stuff because if I did, you would just torture yourself,” he stated. “The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody’s life, 10 years after you’ve signed someone? You can’t do that.”
Cowell paid tribute to Payne with an emotional message: “Liam, I am 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.”