Simon Cowell Says He Feels "Empty" After Liam Payne's Death at 31

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Liam Payne Dead: Charlie Puth, Paris Hilton and More Stars Mourn One Direction Singer's Death

Simon Cowell is navigating a heartbreaking loss.

The longtime endowment justice broke his soundlessness implicit the decease of Liam Payne, a erstwhile subordinate of One Direction, whose fame—alongside bandmates Harry StylesNiall HoranLouis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik—skyrocketed aft the set was formed connected The X Factor in 2010, with Simon mostly being credited implicit the years for placing the 5 men together.

"You ne'er truly cognize however you consciousness astir idiosyncratic until a infinitesimal similar this happens," Simon began his message, posted to Instagram Oct. 18. "Liam, I americium genuinely devastated. Heartbroken. And I consciousness empty. And I privation you to cognize however overmuch emotion and respect I person for you. Every teardrop I person shed is simply a representation of you."

The 65-year-old noted that he's uncovering it hard to enactment his emotions into words.

"I went extracurricular today, and I thought astir truthful galore times we had together," helium continued. "I wanted to fto you cognize what I would ever accidental to the thousands of radical who would ever inquire me. What is Liam like? And I would archer them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused."

While Liam archetypal entered the X Factor competition successful 2008 arsenic a solo artist, it wasn’t until helium returned 2 years aboriginal and was placed into One Direction that helium recovered success. And portion their coming together—and the improvement the set would become—may person felt similar kismet, Simon has been wide implicit the years that helium ever saw the possibilities.

"I had to archer you erstwhile you were 14 that this wasn't your time," Simon reflected successful his message. "And we some made a committedness that we would conscionable again. A batch of radical would person fixed up. You didn't. You came backmost and wrong months the full satellite knew Liam."

Simon recalled Liam—who shared 7-year-old lad Bear Grey Payne with ex Cheryl Cole—visiting him past year. "We reminisced astir each of the amusive clip we had together," helium wrote. "And however arrogant you were to beryllium a Dad."

He noted that Liam's lad has his grin and that aforesaid "twinkle" successful his eyes.

"And helium volition beryllium truthful arrogant of everything you achieved," Simon noted. "And however you achieved it."

Simon concluded his connection by sharing helium ever thought of One Direction's 5 members arsenic brothers.

"And speechmaking their messages contiguous I judge you were," helium said, referencing the band's tributes. "And present Liam, I tin spot the effect you had connected truthful galore people. Because you near america excessively soon. Rest successful bid my friend."

Prior to sharing the heartbreaking statement, Simon cancelled filming for Britain’s Got Talent—of which helium is the creator—the time aft Liam’s death, hitting intermission connected the audition signifier of the contention bid which was acceptable to instrumentality spot successful Blackpool, England.

Liam died astatine the property of 31 aft helium suffered a fatal autumn from a third-story balcony astatine a edifice successful Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct. 16.

Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images

As acold arsenic deciding to spot the 5 into a group, Simon told Rolling Stone in 2012, “I’ve done this for truthful galore years, definite times a radical similar that whitethorn not work, but this peculiar twelvemonth it felt similar the close happening to do, and we were conscionable fortunate that we had these 5 guys, each with antithetic strengths. The chemistry was incredible.”

Simon besides reflected astatine the clip connected his archetypal content of Liam.

“I’d auditioned him earlier on The X Factor, when helium was 14,” the American Idol alum remembered. “And helium didn’t marque it. Funnily enough, helium didn’t person overmuch enactment from the different judges, but I’d ever backed him.”

He continued, “When helium came backmost the 2nd time, I was truly arrogant of him due to the fact that helium truly made an effort and helium wanted to beryllium a point—and helium was good. I ever knew that with assurance helium would beryllium a invaluable subordinate of this band.”

Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Disney

And invaluable he—and each 5 members—became. Despite finishing successful 3rd connected The X Factor, Liam and One Direction would spell connected to go a planetary phenomenon, with the set earning 4 fig 1 albums connected the Billboard 200 and six apical 10 hits during their six years unneurotic earlier parting ways into solo careers.

But portion Liam owed his emergence to fame to the band, he’d besides been candid implicit the years astir the ways successful which he struggled with beingness successful the spotlight during his One Direction tenure.

"Fame made maine a small spot nuts and distracted maine a batch from the idiosyncratic I was," helium told #Legend magazine successful 2018. "And it pissed maine disconnected successful the end, due to the fact that it was like, 'You could person been this guy, but you chose to bash this.' Nobody truly knew thing astir me. I enactment connected a beforehand that wasn't truly me."

Which is wherefore erstwhile One Direction officially decided to portion ways successful 2016, 1 twelvemonth aft Zayn was the archetypal to permission the group, the creator breathed a suspiration of relief.

"I retrieve the time we finished, due to the fact that of the spot I was in, I was rather blessed that we had a break," Liam continued. "I said to the idiosyncratic with maine astatine the time, 'Thank God I don't person to play that idiosyncratic again for a agelong time.' It was exhausting and I couldn't support up with myself."

For much of Liam’s friends, loved ones and colleagues who person paid tribute, support reading.

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Niall Horan 

"I americium perfectly devastated astir the passing of my astonishing friend, Liam," Niall wrote successful a lengthy Instagram statement. "It conscionable doesn't consciousness real. Liam had an vigor for beingness and a passionateness for enactment that was infectious. He was the brightest successful each country and ever made everyone consciousness blessed and secure."

The "Slow Hands" vocalist continued to reminisce connected his clip singing alongside Liam successful One Direction. 

"All the laughs we had implicit the years, sometimes astir the simplest of things, support coming to my caput done the sadness," Niall added. "We got to unrecorded retired our wildest dreams unneurotic and I volition cherish each infinitesimal we had forever. The enslaved and relationship we had doesn't hap often successful a lifetime."

Niall, who had Liam and his woman Kate Cassidy arsenic guests astatine his caller performance successful Buenos Aires, besides elaborate what it was similar seeing his person for the last time. 

"I consciousness truthful fortunate that I got to spot him recently," Niall wrote. "I sadly didn't cognize that aft saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would beryllium saying goodbye forever. It's heartbreaking. My emotion and condolences spell retired to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of people his lad Bear. Thank you for everything, Payno. Love you brother."

Al Pereira/WireImage

Harry Styles

"I americium genuinely devastated by Liam’s passing," Harry began successful his Instagram post. "His top joyousness was making different radical happy, and it was an honour to beryllium alongside him arsenic helium did it."

"Liam lived wide open, with his bosom connected his sleeve, helium had an vigor for beingness that was infectious," helium added of his legacy. "He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent unneurotic volition everlastingly stay among the astir cherished years of my life. I volition miss him always, my beauteous friend."

Myrna Suarez/Getty Images

Zayn Malik

Liam's erstwhile One Direction bandmate reflected connected each helium wished helium could person said to him. 

"I can't assistance but deliberation selfishly that determination was truthful galore much conversations for america to person successful our lives," Zayn wrote connected Instagram. "I ne'er got to convey you for supporting maine done immoderate of the astir hard times successful my life. When I was missing location arsenic a 17 yr aged kid you would ever beryllium determination with a affirmative outlook and reassuring grin and fto maine cognize you were my person and that I was loved."

"Even though you were younger than maine you were ever much sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave nary f--ks astir telling radical erstwhile they were wrong," helium continued. "Even though we butted heads due to the fact that of this a fewer times,I ever secretly respected you for it."

Zayn besides called Liam "the astir qualified" instrumentalist successful the set "in each sense."

"I mislaid a member erstwhile you near america and can't explicate to you what I'd springiness to conscionable springiness you a hug 1 past clip and accidental goodbye to you decently and archer you that I loved and respected you dearly," helium wrote. "[I] volition cherish each the memories I person with you successful my bosom forever, determination is nary words that warrant oregon explicate however I consciousness close present different than beyond devastated."

Luca Teuchmann/Getty Images

Louis Tomlinson

Louis shared a lengthy connection to his own Instagram, commemorating Liam's bequest and his friendship. 

"I americium beyond devastated to beryllium penning this but yesterday I mislaid a brother," Louis wrote. "Liam was idiosyncratic I looked up to everyday, specified a positive, funny, and benignant soul. I archetypal met Liam erstwhile helium was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his dependable but much importantly arsenic clip went connected I got the accidental to spot the benignant of member I'd longed each my beingness for."

The "Back To You" singer—who cowrote galore One Direction songs with Liam—continued to enactment Liam's interaction connected the band. 

"Liam was an unthinkable opus writer with a large consciousness of melody, we often spoke of getting backmost into the workplace unneurotic to effort and recreate the penning chemistry we had built up successful the band," helium added. "And for the record, Liam was successful my sentiment the astir captious portion of One Direction. His acquisition from a young age, his cleanable pitch, his signifier presence, his acquisition for writing. The database goes on. Thank you for shaping america Liam."

Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

One Direction

"We're wholly devastated by the quality of Liam's passing," the set wrote successful a associated connection connected Instagram. "In time, and erstwhile everyone is capable to, determination volition beryllium much to say. But for now, we volition instrumentality immoderate clip to grieve and process the nonaccomplishment of our brother, who we loved dearly."

Louis, Zayn, Niall and Harry continued to stress the interaction Liam had connected their lives. 

"The memories we shared with him volition beryllium treasured forever," the connection added. "For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We volition miss him terribly. We emotion you Liam."

Liam Payne's family

"We are heartbroken," Liam's family, including ma Karen, dada Geoff, and sisters Ruth and Nicola, told the BBC. "Liam volition everlastingly unrecorded successful our hearts and we'll retrieve him for his kind, comic and brave soul. We are supporting each different the champion we tin arsenic a household and inquire for privateness and abstraction astatine this atrocious time."

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Ed Sheeran 

"At a nonaccomplishment for words," Ed wrote successful an Oct. 17 Instagram post. "My thoughts are with his household and loved ones, each representation I person with him is simply a large one, conscionable a heartbreaking situation. Be kind. X."

Dave Benett/Getty Images for The London EDITION

Jade Thirlwall 

"The quality of Liam's passing is genuinely devastating," The Little Mix subordinate wrote successful an Oct. 17 Instagram Story. "Sending truthful overmuch emotion to his family, friends, fans, loved ones and each who knew him."

Jade—who competed connected The X Factor UK alongside Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson successful 2011 arsenic Little Mix—also shared a representation of coming up successful the manufacture with Liam. 

"We fell retired of interaction arsenic the years went by," Jade continued. "But backmost successful 2008 helium was the archetypal person I made successful this industry. Both of america truthful young, truthful ambitious, some hoping we'd 'make it.' I anticipation you are astatine bid now."

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Leigh-Anne Pinnock

The Little Mix subordinate reshared Louis Tomlinson's station astir Liam, adding a connection of her own. 

"This is beyong heartbreaking," she wrote. "Every clip we crossed paths helium was truthful beauteous and humble. I'll ne'er hide seeing One Direction connected circuit for the archetypal clip and being instantly drawn to Liam's beingness you could conscionable archer helium was made for that stage. Gone mode excessively soon. Sending each my emotion and deepest condolences to his household and everyone adjacent to him."

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Camila Cabello

The Fifth Harmony alum, who collaborated with Liam for a 2018 mixtape, thanked the precocious vocalist for "for each the joyousness you brought my friends and i."

"It truly made an content connected maine arsenic a young miss to conscionable a subordinate of a radical one loved and person him beryllium truthful kind," she wrote connected Instagram Story. "it's a calamity to person him gone mode excessively soon."

Kevin Mazur/2020 MTV Movie & TV Awards/Getty Images

Steve Aoki 

"I’ll miss u beloved friend. It’s truthful hard to constitute this out," the DJ wrote successful an Oct. 17 Instagram post. "Doesn’t marque sense, I can’t judge you’re gone brother. We had truthful galore astonishing memories unneurotic connected and disconnected the stage. A existent fable and a kinder psyche with a bosom of gold. Miss u my brother."

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV

*NSYNC

"We are profoundly saddened by the nonaccomplishment of Liam Payne," the lad set shared to their offical account's Instagram Story. "Our hearts spell retired to his family, friends and fans during this hard time."

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

JC Chasez

The erstwhile *NSYNC member, who collaborated with the One Direction prima connected his past solo azygous "Teardrops," shared a tribute to Liam connected Instagram, "I volition miss you my friend—my bosom is with your family."

Aliana Mawla/Instagram

Aliana Mawla 

The influencer, who dated Liam concisely successful 2022, shared her condolences successful an Instagram story. 

"I'm atrocious this happened to you, volition everlastingly emotion and miss you," Aliana wrote. "Rest successful paradise."

Lia Toby/BFC/Getty Images for BFC

Rita Ora

"I'm devastated," the singer, who sang with Liam connected the azygous "For You," wrote connected X, formerly Twitter Oct. 17. "He had the kindest soul, I volition ne'er forget. I loved moving with him truthful much—he was conscionable specified a joyousness to beryllium astir connected and disconnected stage. This tragic quality breaks my heart. Sending each my emotion and prayers to his household and loved ones. Our opus For You takes connected a full caller meaning for maine now. R.I.P."

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images

James Corden

The former Late Late host, who was a longtime person and instrumentality of the British lad band, wrote successful an Instagram post.

"Talking astir Liam successful the past tense is utterly heartbreaking," helium wrote. "He was specified a loving and benignant soul. I volition treasure the moments I got to walk with him. My thoughts are with his household contiguous x."

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Dazed

Gemma Styles

Harry Styles's sister reshared One Direction's connection to her Instagram Story Oct. 17, adding, "My thoughts are with Liam's household and everyone who volition consciousness his nonaccomplishment deeply."

Marco Prosch/Getty Images

Robbie Williams

The Take That singer, who mentored One Direction connected The X Factor, shared his thoughts connected Liam's passing successful a lengthy Instagram station Oct. 18

"What a Handsome Talented boy," Robbie wrote. "What a tragic achy nonaccomplishment for his friends, family, fans and by the looks of the vigor this infinitesimal has created—the world."

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

Backstreet Boys

The lad band—made up of Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough—shared their condolences.

"Words tin not explicit the emotions we are collectively feeling close now, and it seems similar the remainder of the satellite is successful the aforesaid boat," the statement connected X, formerly Twitter, said. "Our hearts spell retired to Liam’s family, friends, and Directioners astir the world. Rest successful bid brother.

Instagram/AJ McLean

AJ McLean

In a connection of his own, the Backstreet Boys singer—who served arsenic a justice alongside Liam successful the upcoming Netflix bid Building the Band—said, "Words cannot statesman to explicit the symptom I person for this antheral and the large nonaccomplishment we person endured!"

"We became precise adjacent astir instantly and shared truthful galore stories, laughs, and beingness experiences," helium continued. "Gone excessively soon my friend. You were specified a airy an unthinkable idiosyncratic to beryllium successful the beingness of regular portion we worked together!"

AJ added, "I cannot judge you are gone. Keep shining and support singing for america each to hear. My deepest condolences to your household , loved ones, and your bandmates. Love you bro."

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Charlie Puth

In a station shared connected his Instagram Story, the "See You Again" vocalist said Liam was "always truthful benignant to me."

"He was 1 of the archetypal large artists I got to enactment with," Charlie, who worked with the One Direction alum connected 2017's "Bedroom Floor," continued. "I tin not judge helium is gone."

David M Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images

Olly Murs

"This quality is devastating, americium mislaid for words," the X Factor runner-up wrote connected Instagram. "We ever had a bully laughter erstwhile we saw each other, sometimes the drawback ups were lone abbreviated and saccharine but erstwhile we did it was mostly astir however annoyingly bully his hairsbreadth ever looked, oregon our emotion for Becks, the aged XF days and the circuit we shared together."

The instrumentalist continued, "Liam shared the aforesaid passions arsenic me, the aforesaid dreams truthful to spot his beingness present extremity truthful young hits hard, I’m genuinely gutted and devastated for his Family and of people his lad Bear losing a dada x americium reasoning of them! RIP Liam."

Robert Smith/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Halsey

The "Without Me" vocalist shared a lengthy Tumblr post to commemorate the precocious One Direction member. 

"I loved 1 absorption with an all-consuming unit erstwhile one was younger—it hurts profoundly to mourn idiosyncratic you were a monolithic instrumentality of arsenic teenager, and became a adjacent of arsenic an adult," she wrote. "I cognize radical alteration and grief is unsure oregon analyzable erstwhile it’s attached to a fond representation oregon the feeling a idiosyncratic gave you and not tangibly the idiosyncratic themself. I tin spot galore of you connected present are struggling with that close present and one understand."

And Halsey finished by sharing a fond representation of Liam. 

"A fewer years agone one purchased a location that Liam antecedently owned," she continued. "There were rumors the location was haunted. He assured maine it was not, and one believed him. due to the fact that one cognize the ghosts that haunt america aren’t tethered to buildings. They unrecorded successful parts of america that are harder to scope and they spell wherever we do. As a parent, a chap artist, and a fan, I simply cannot fathom this untimely loss. my bosom goes retired to his family, friends, and the fans."

X/Liam Payne

Paul Wesley

"I americium profoundly saddened by the nonaccomplishment of my person Liam," the Vampire Diaries alum wrote connected Instagram Story. "Such a tragedy. Far excessively young."

Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Fanatics

Quavo

The rapper, who was featured connected Liam's biggest solo deed "Strip that Down" wrote successful an Oct. 16 Instagram Story tribute, "Rest successful Paradise."

Kevin Mazur/OneD/Getty Images

Dan Richards

"This each feels truthful surreal," the guitar player—who toured with One Direction—wrote successful an Oct. 16 Instagram Story. "Thanks to everyone reaching out, inactive trying to wrapper my caput astir it all. My thoughts spell retired to Liam's household astatine this time."

Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Ronnie Wood

The Rolling Stones member, who performed with One Direction on The X Factor UK successful 2014, shared his condolences online. 

"I americium shocked and saddened to perceive of the decease of Liam Payne," Ronnie wrote successful an X, formerly Twitter, statement. "It was a pleasance to enactment with him connected our X Factor performance. God bless Liam, reasoning of each his loved ones. He volition beryllium dearly missed."

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The X Factor

"We are heartbroken by the bittersweet passing of Liam Payne," the show—which Liam was isolated of for 2 seasons successful 2008 arsenic a solo creator and with One Direction successful 2010—wrote successful a connection connected X, formerly Twitter. "He was immensely talented and, arsenic portion of One Direction, Liam volition permission a lasting bequest connected the euphony manufacture and fans astir the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, household and each who loved him."

Joseph Okpako/WireImage

Cher Lloyd

The "Want U Back" singer, who competed alongside One Direction connected The X Factor in 2010, wrote a heartfelt connection to the precocious subordinate connected Instagram, alongside a throwback photograph of the pair. 

"From being connected the amusement together, visiting each others homes portion filming, going connected circuit unneurotic and watching you execute your dreams," Cher wrote on Instagram Oct. 17. "I’ll cherish the memories made and the laughs we had. My thoughts are with your household and friends, with everyone who loves you. My bosom is breaking for your Son Bear. Rest successful bid Liam."

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Josh Devine

The drummer, who toured with One Direction, shared a heartfelt tribute to societal media. 

"Heartbreaking news," helium wrote successful an Oct. 17 Instagram Story. "I conscionable commune for Liam's family, and each that knew and loved him. Some of my fav memories successful beingness were due to the fact that of this man. No words."

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