Simon Cowell reflects on grief following Liam Payne’s sudden passing in 2024
Payne, who rose to fame on 'The X Factor', died at age 31 in October 2024
Music executive Simon Cowell has opened up about the emotional impact of Liam Payne’s death, revealing he was left “in pieces” and needed to step away from public life to cope with the tragedy.
Payne, a former member of One Direction, died in October 2024 at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cowell discovered Payne during The X Factor auditions in 2010 and later played a key role in forming One Direction, one of the most successful boy bands in global pop history.
Speaking on the Daily Mail podcast Tales From the Celebrity Trenches, Cowell described the immediate aftermath of the news as overwhelming.
“What do you do in a situation like that? It was so bad, I was in pieces,” he said. “There were so many things going on in my head. I literally just disappeared somewhere for a week to think everything through because I knew I was really, really struggling.”
Cowell, 66, maintained a close relationship with the members of One Direction following their rise to fame, including Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Payne, all of whom were signed to his Syco record label after their time on the talent show.
Reflecting on his role as a mentor, Cowell said he has always felt a strong sense of responsibility toward young artists navigating sudden fame.
“My responsibility is to go: look, if it works and you're successful, that's a good thing,” he said.
“However, as your life changes there are going to be times when it's really stressful, really hard. I will help you prepare for that and be there if you need me.”
Cowell also recalled the early formation of One Direction on The X Factor, saying the decision to bring the group together happened almost instantly after their individual auditions.
“They all had good auditions,” he said. “Then, in the middle rounds, certain people for whatever reason mess up. They didn’t do enough to make it as solo artists.”
“When I saw the boys all on stage, there was a moment thinking ‘we’ve got to do something with them’. It took about 25 minutes, being honest with you, to put them all together.”