Simon Cowell has addressed the concerns of Liam Payne fans who have ‘blamed’ him for the One Direction star’s untimely demise last year.
In October 2024, Liam Payne tragically passed away at the age of 31 after a fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Payne was in Argentina to support his bandmate Niall Horan, who was performing in the city. A video captured him enjoying the concert, dancing along to the music.
In January 2025, a UK coroner listed the preliminary cause of Payne’s death as multiple traumatic injuries, or ‘polytrauma.’ Additionally, a further hearing was conducted earlier this month.
The BBC reported that the inquest was adjourned with a review scheduled for May 7, 2026, due to ‘ongoing investigations in Argentina into the circumstances surrounding Liam’s death’.
Following the incident, five individuals were arrested, but Argentinian authorities later dismissed manslaughter charges against one of Payne’s friends and two hotel staff members.
Cowell, instrumental in Payne’s rise to fame as part of One Direction in 2010, was among those who offered heartfelt tributes following his death.
In his statement, Cowell expressed: “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens. 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.”
Recently, on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, the former X Factor judge addressed the questions surrounding Payne’s passing, specifically regarding those attributing blame to him.
“I don’t read any of this stuff because if I did, you would just torture yourself,” the 66-year-old commented. “The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody’s life, ten years after you’ve signed someone? You can’t do that.”
Speaking on the impact of Payne’s death, Cowell said: “When I heard the news, it really hit me. I saw him a year before this happened. He came over to my house. We talked about his son and being a dad.
“I remember saying, ‘Music is not everything. Don’t let it run your life anymore. Find something else that you are passionate about.’ You ask yourself that question: “Could I have done anything more? What would’ve happened to Liam if he hadn’t been in the band?”
He further shared: “Having spoken to his mom and dad recently, all they kept telling me was he was so proud of what he had achieved. I wish I could turn back the clock, of course.
“When I spoke to him that day, I felt really good about him. I thought, “Wow, you seem in a really good place.”