With a heavy heart, Simon Cowell is sharing his shock and sadness over the passing of Liam Payne.
Simon Cowell’s initial reaction for the tragic and unexpected death of Liam Payne it was not a public statement.
Like everyone else, he was still processing, waiting for answers and collecting his thoughts.
Now, the man who helped bring One Direction together has released his official statement.
Two days after Liam Payne’s unexpected death, Simon Cowell published a response
“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” he began. Instagram post on Friday, October 18th.
“Liam, I’m really devastated,” expressed Simon Cowell. “Heartbroken. And I feel empty.”:
He stated, “And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I shed is a memory of you.”
“I wanted you to know what I would always say to the thousands of people who always asked me. What’s Liam like? Simon Cowell wrote, continuing to direct his words to the late Liam Payne.
“And I would tell them that you were kind, funny, sweet, caring, talented, humble, focused,” he shared. His post continued: “And how much you loved music. And how much love you really had for the fans.”
It’s been years since Simon Cowell was Liam Payne’s (and One Direction as a whole) manager. But he revealed that he and Liam saw each other last year, “not for a meeting” but “just to sit and talk”.
It was good to catch up
“We remember all the fun times we had together,” Simon Cowell reflected on that one-on-one. “And how proud you were to be a father.”
His tribute added: “After you left, I remembered that you were still the sweet, kind boy I knew years ago.”
Simon Cowell, who initially had to tell 14-year-old Liam Payne that it was “not his time” for stardom, met the late singer’s 7-year-old son, Bear. “He has your smile and that sparkle in his eyes that you have. And he will be very proud of everything you have achieved. And how did you achieve this.
“I always thought of the five of you in the band as brothers,” expressed Simon Cowell, referring to Liam Payne’s former bandmates: Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
“And,” he continued, “reading their messages today, I believe you were.”
This phrase refers to the tributes to Liam Payne that his ex- The One Direction bandmates shared after his death.
Simon Cowell wrote a very thoughtful tribute
“And now Liam, I can see the effect you’ve had on so many people,” he said. “Because you left us too soon.”
Liam Payne was just 31 years old when he passed away. He was a father. He was loved by millions.
Simon Cowell helped form One Direction when they were a group of singles contestants on X Factor. Together, these five young singers left an indelible mark on the world of music. Liam Payne is sorely missed.