Simon Cowell breaks silence, says he’s “devastated” by Liam Payne’s death: “I feel empty”

The shocking death of musician and former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne has devastated people around the world, and tributes have been pouring in from fans and Payne’s peers in the music industry.

Today, one important figure in Payne’s musical career broke his silence: Simon Cowell, who wrote that he was “devastated” by the news.

Cowell, 65, played an instrumental role in the forming of One Direction. As host of The X Factor, he suggested that Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne, who had all auditioned for the show individually, form a boy band together.

One Direction placed third in that year’s competition, but Cowell signed them to his Syco Music record label, and the group went on to become one of the most successful boy bands of all time.

Liam Payne died on Wednesday after falling multiple stories from his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31.

Today, Cowell broke his silence on the shocking death, writing that he was “truly devastated” and “heartbroken” by the news. “I feel empty,” Cowell wrote in a statement posted to social media.

“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” Cowell wrote. “I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.”

“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 you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.”

Though One Direction parted ways in 2016 and Cowell’s professional relationship with the group is years in the past, Cowell indicated that he kept on good personal terms with Payne, saying the late pop star visited him last year “just to sit and talk,” and Payne expressed pride in being a father to his son Bear.

“After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I met all of those years ago,” Cowell wrote.

“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.”

Payne’s One Direction bandmates also broke their silence yesterday in a joint statement.

“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” their statement reads, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”

Cowell said that reading their messages reaffirmed his belief that the five were “brothers.”

But at the same time, Cowell has also come under fire from some fans and industry colleagues, who accused Cowell of exploiting Payne and his bandmates from a young age, which may have contributed to Payne’s addiction issues and untimely passing.

Katie Waissel, who competed on The X Factor the same season as One Direction, was especially critical of Cowell and other music industry execs while paying tribute to Payne.

“There are those who had a responsibility to provide the care and support necessary for the well-being of young artists, but too often, the focus remained on profits rather than the people,” Waissel wrote. “This industry has treated talent like commodities, and the negligence of duty of care has once again led to a heart-wrenching loss.”

“We need only look at Simon Cowell’s recent interview with Steven Bartlett, where he admits his greatest regret was not owning the band’s name,” she wrote. “The real regret should be the failure to prioritise the emotional and physical welfare of the artists who put their trust in these institutions.”

Payne had struggled with substance addiction throughout his career, and alcohol and narcotics were found in his hotel room after his death. Payne has said that his years as a One Direction teen idol exacerbated his alcohol addiction.

“In the band… the best way to secure us, because of how big we’d got, was just to lock us in our rooms. What’s in the room? A mini-bar,” he said in a 2021 interview on the The Diary of a CEO podcast. “So at a certain point I thought, I’m just going to have a party-for-one and that seemed to carry on for many years of my life. Then you look back at how long you’ve been drinking and you’re like, ‘Jesus Christ, that’s a long time.’”

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