Simon Cowell says ‘I feel empty’ after Liam Payne’s untimely death

The untimely death of former One Direction member Liam Payne sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry. On October 16, the singer was declared dead after reportedly suffering serious injuries after falling from the third-floor balcony of his hotel in Argentina. Shortly after the official announcement, tributes started pouring in from music legends, his huge fans, family and friends. Among them was One Direction co-creator Simon Cowell, who posted the heartwarming post for the late member of the pop brand making the rounds on the internet.

Renowned music mogul Simon Cowell has expressed his devastation over the tragic death of Liam Payne. On October 18, he shared photo posts on Instagram, beginning by saying, “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens. Liam, I’m devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty.”

The record executive added, “And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I shed is a memory of you.” Unknownly, Cowell met Payne when he was 14 years old. The singer then left the X Factor judges swooning with his rendition of Michael Bublé’s Cry Me A River. Initially rejected as a contestant, Payne was determined to one day make headlines. No doubt, he came back stronger and won hearts with his singing. Recalling the fond memories, the X Factor judge said: ‘You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam. And we reminisced about all the fun times we had together.”

Cowell even recalled his last encounter with Payne, when the former met the singer’s baby boy Bear, who has similar features to his father. “And you were so proud to be a father,” he revealed. The Syco Music founder then mentioned his brotherly bond with The Right Now singer, writing, “I always saw the five of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today, I believe you were too.” He concluded: ‘Rest in peace, my friend. And I send my love, thoughts and prayers to your family.”

The X-Factor judge’s post after the 31-year-old singer’s death received hate on the internet soon after it was uploaded. Shortly afterwards, Cowell had to turn off the comments.

Cowell helped the singers climb the steps of immense stardom at a very young age. However, according to the comments posted earlier, it was believed that he could not protect them from its after-effects, as reported by Hindustan Times. Over the years, the pop band members openly talked about how they dealt with it. According to reports, one user wrote: “He abandoned the boys and didn’t protect them when they were young.”