Simon Cowell is experiencing a “moment of reflection” following the tragic death of Liam Payne, who he considered as a “son”.
The 65-year-old music mogul is deeply upset over the untimely demise of the singer, who was discovered after falling three floors from a Buenos Aires hotel room balcony.
Alongside other One Direction members Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Niall Horan, Liam, 31, initially auditioned for ITV’s talent show The X Factor as an individual in 2010. However, Simon saw potential in the boys and their subsequent formation led to worldwide success.
Simon has temporarily paused Britain’s Got Talent filming while he copes with the tragedy, having played a crucial role in catapulting the five singers to stardom.
A source informed the Mail: “Simon is gutted with the Liam news. Simon has a son that he loves more than anything and in essence the boys from One Direction were his first set of sons, he spent so much time with them, and he loves all of them.”
Simon first encountered Liam when he was merely 14 in 2008 and encouraged him to re-audition for the X Factor again two years later.
The source revealed that Liam held a special place in Simon’s heart, and the music mogul is devastated by the recent events. As he navigates this “absolute nightmare”, Simon is holding onto cherished memories with Liam.
The insider added: “This is a moment of reflection for Simon, as he tries to figure out how to support his family and do something for Liam, but that will take time; for now, he has to cope with the tragedy. It’s incredibly tough and sad.”
As Simon grapples with the aftermath of Wednesday’s horrific incident, numerous celebrities have urged fans to be considerate when discussing their idols online. Following Robbie Williams’ tribute to Liam on Friday morning, Ed Sheeran implored others to “be kind” in his own tribute.
Alongside a black-and-white photo of Liam smiling on Instagram, Sheeran wrote: “At a loss for words. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, every memory I have with him is a great one, just such a heart-breaking situation. Be kind. X”
Robbie Williams also advocated for greater kindness and empathy following Liam’s passing, describing him as “a handsome talented boy”. The former Take That member reminisced about performing and socializing with One Direction during the 2010 X Factor final, saying: “They were all cheeky and lovely.
He went on: “Our paths have crossed ever since that day and I’m fond of them all. Liam’s trials and tribulations were very similar to mine, so it made sense to reach out and offer what I could. So I did.”
Robbie further urged restraint in online discourse, asserting: “Even famous strangers need your compassion”. He concluded with a tribute: “What a handsome talented boy. What a tragic painful loss for his friends, family, fans and by the looks of the energy this moment has created – The world.”
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