Simon Cowell is remembering Liam Payne following the 31-year-old singer’s death.
In a statement posted to Instagram Friday (Oct. 18), the X Factor creator — who gave Payne his start on the show in 2010 by placing him in One Direction — wrote that he feels “devastated” and “heartbroken” over the loss of his former mentee. “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” Cowell wrote. “I feel empty.”
“I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you,” the mogul continued. “Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.”
Payne died Oct. 16 after falling from the third floor of his hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A preliminary autopsy concluded that the star was potentially under the influence of substances when the fall occurred, moments before which a hotel manager had placed a 911 call to report that a guest was “destroying [their] entire room.”
In the wake of his death, Payne’s former One Direction bandmates each shared individual statements mourning the musician in addition to releasing a joint statement Thursday (Oct. 17). In his own message, Cowell shared that people would often ask him what Payne was like in real life, and he “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.”
The former American Idol judge also reminisced on the first time he crossed paths with Payne when the singer auditioned for The X Factor U.K. in 2008 but was sent home; two years later, he’d audition again and earn his spot in 1D. “I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time,” Cowell wrote. “And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t.”
“You came to see me last year,” Cowell continued. “Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all of the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a Dad. After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all of those years ago.”
Cowell’s statement marks the first time the producer has spoken about Payne’s passing. Earlier in the week, Cowell’s auditions for Britain’s Got Talent — another of his talent shows — were postponed “due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne,” according to a statement posted by Applause Store Thursday (Oct. 17).
Cowell was instrumental in Payne’s career, assigning the singer to One Direction with fellow X Factor hopefuls Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson in 2010. The band went on to dominate pop music for six years after that, scoring four No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and six Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits before disbanding in 2016, after which Payne and his bandmates each pursued successful solo careers.
Cowell also reflected on the similarities between Payne and the singer’s 7-year-old son Bear, whom he shares with ex Cheryl Cole. Wrote the producer, “He has your smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have. And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it.”
He concluded his tribute “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.”
See Cowell’s full statement about Payne below.
