‘Devastated’ Simon Cowell pays tribute to Liam Payne

Published

2 mins ago

October 18, 2024

admin

Simon Cowell has said he is “truly devastated” and “heartbroken” over the death of former One Direction star Liam Payne.

The X Factor judge – who mentored the band on the show and later signed them to his label – posted a tribute on Instagram to the 31-year-old singer.

Payne died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.

“You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens,” Cowell wrote.

“Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you. Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.

“This is so difficult to put into words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together.”

Cowell continued: “I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I 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.”

Liam Payne latest: Follow live updates

Cowell also referenced the time he initially rejected Payne for being too young when he first appeared on the X Factor in 2008.

“I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again,” he wrote.

Remembering when Payne returned to the talent show’s audition process two years later, Cowell added: “A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam.

“And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.”

He also revealed that the pair had met last year “just to sit and talk”.

“We reminisced about all 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 met all those years ago,” he wrote.

Cowell also said he had met Payne’s son Bear, adding that the boy had the singer’s “smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have”.

“He will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it,” Cowell added.

The music mogul finished his tribute with the words: “I always thought the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were.

“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.”

He added: “I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family. Simon X”.

It comes after Payne’s One Direction bandmates, including Niall Horan and Harry Styles, issued their own tributes to the singer.

Cowell will reportedly miss filming for the ITV show Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) when production resumes on Saturday.

Filming for the programme was halted earlier this week in the wake of Payne’s death.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli is said to be stepping in to replace Cowell for an unspecified amount of time.

A source told The Sun: “This news has hit Simon incredibly hard – he is utterly shocked and devastated…

“He didn’t feel it was right to continue with filming BGT, and when it resumes on Saturday, does not feel he’ll be in the right headspace to continue.”

Entertainment

Liam Payne: Niall Horan pays tribute as stars react to former One Direction singer’s death

Published

7 hours ago

October 18, 2024

admin

Liam Payne: Niall Horan pays tribute as stars react to former One Direction singer's death

Niall Horan has paid tribute to his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, saying he is “absolutely devastated” by his death.

The 31-year-old pop star suffered “extremely serious injuries” after landing in the courtyard of the CasaSur Hotel in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, police said.

Payne had flown to Buenos Aires to attend the Horan’s concert at the Movistar Arena earlier this month.

Horan shared a photo of the pair as teenagers at the start of their One Direction journey, with Payne on his back and both smiling for the camera.

In a statement shared on Instagram, he wrote: “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

Liam Payne latest: Follow live updates

He described his former bandmate as having an “energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious”.

“He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure,” he said.

He went on: “All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.

“We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.”

He said news of the death of his “amazing friend” just didn’t “feel real”.

He signed off his post, “Thank you for everything Payno, Love you brother, Nialler”.

Former One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan put out a statement saying they were “completely devastated” following Payne’s death.

Fans flocked to the hotel after news of Payne’s death broke, setting up vigils, singing and lighting candles.

In the UK, fans are planning a memorial in Hyde Park in London on Sunday afternoon.

In the hours before his death, photos shared from the singer’s Snapchat account showed him with his partner Kate Cassidy.

The band was formed on The X Factor in 2010, with Payne featuring alongside Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles. They were mentored by Simon Cowell who had also created the show.

The group finished third before signing with Cowell’s “Syco” record label and going on to become one of the best-selling boybands of all time.

Payne leaves behind his 7-year-old son Bear who he shared with Girls Aloud star Cheryl, his parents Karen and Geoff, and elder sisters Nicola and Ruth.

Entertainment

Former One Direction star Harry Styles pays tribute to Liam Payne after shock death in Argentina

Published

12 hours ago

October 18, 2024

admin

Former One Direction star Harry Styles pays tribute to Liam Payne after shock death in Argentina

Harry Styles has paid tribute to his former bandmate Liam Payne saying his energy was “infectious” and the time spent together would be “among the most cherished years of my life”.

The Watermelon Sugar popstar said in a post on Instagram on Thursday evening he was “truly devastated” by the death of Payne, with whom he shot to fame as part of boy band One Direction.

Payne, 31, died after plunging to his death from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital.

The circumstances of his death were suspicious and possibly involved drugs, Argentinian prosecutors have said, but there was no sign of third-party involvement.

“His greatest joy was making other people happy and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it,” Styles said.

“Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious.

“He was warm, supportive and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.

“My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew him and loved him, as I did.”

Tributes to the 31-year-old singer have been pouring in from all over the world since the shocking news of his death emerged.

One Direction issued a statement saying they were “completely devastated” by “the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly”.

On his Instagram page, fellow One Direction member Louis Tomlinson said he had “lost a brother”.

Calling the singer “an incredible songwriter with a great sense of melody”, he said they “got even closer since the band” and offered to be an uncle to Payne’s son, Bear if he “ever needs me”.

Zayn Malik posted simply “Love You Bro”, along with a picture of the two of them asleep together, seemingly in a vehicle.

‘Heartbroken’

His family said they were “heartbroken” in a statement issued through Payne’s representative.

“Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.

“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, who performed with One Direction in 2014, said he was “shocked and saddened”.

The Backstreet Boys said in a social media post that their hearts go out to “Directioners around the world.”

The production company behind the film One Direction: This is Us, hailed Payne as a “truly wonderful soul”, before adding in a post on Instagram: “Every room was brighter for him being in it.”

Former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne said the music industry had failed Payne, who was “just a kid” when he entered “one of the toughest industries in the world”.

Payne previously said he struggled with alcoholism at the peak of his success, describing hitting “rock bottom” to The Diary Of A CEO podcast host Steven Bartlett.

But in 2023 he posted a YouTube video confirming he was almost six months sober after nearly 100 days in a US rehab facility.

In past interviews, Payne alluded to the gruelling consequences of growing up against the surreal backdrop of the entertainment industry.

“I don’t think you can ever deal with that. It’s all a bit crazy for us to see that people get in that sort of state of mind about us and what we do,” he told the AP in 2013.

What do we know about Payne’s death so far?

The Buenos Aires police said they found Payne’s hotel room “in complete disarray” with broken objects and furniture.

They found packs of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, energy supplements and over-the-counter medications strewn about his belongings. The Argentine public prosecutor said there also appeared to be alcohol and narcotics in the room.

Forensics teams reported that a whiskey bottle, lighter and mobile phone were retrieved from the building’s internal courtyard where Payne’s body was found.

One of his close friends has shown Sky News messages he sent her hours before he died.

The results of the requested toxicology tests are pending and could take weeks to become public.

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

Entertainment

Liam Payne’s close friend reveals final messages singer sent her hours before his death

Published

15 hours ago

October 18, 2024

admin

Liam Payne's close friend reveals final messages singer sent her hours before his death

A close friend of Liam Payne has revealed to Sky News the final messages the singer sent her in the hours leading up to his death on Wednesday.

Jodie Richards, who taught the former One Direction star at her performing arts company Pink Productions in Wolverhampton, said she thought the news that he’d died after falling from a balcony in Buenos Aires was “fake” and she tried to call him on Wednesday night.

Liam, 31, had messaged Jodie on Monday to ask her what she was doing. She replied to say she was with her son, Jackson, at a gym, and Liam replied “nice”.

He later sent her a photo of himself sitting on his bed in his hotel room in the Argentinian capital, with his hand to his forehead. She replied: “Sorry just home x.”

Latest updates: New details of Payne’s death released

Jodie told Sky News: “I’m really close to Liam, we’ve been friends for years and he was away yesterday in Argentina and I think he just wanted to touch base and check I was okay, see how everyone was back at home.

“We speak near enough every day and have done for years. Obviously he’s always been there at times I’ve needed him even though he’s not local.”

On Wednesday, Liam messaged Jodie in the early hours of the morning UK time to ask if she was awake – she later replied that she was at 8.20am.

She asked if he was okay, he replied “yeah” and she told him she’d just got to work. He told her he was “chilling” in Argentina.

“He was looking forward to his day, he said he was having a chill, nothing seemed out of the ordinary”, the 41-year-old, from the West Midlands, said.

“He’s always somewhere more glamorous than we are so LA, Argentina, I have to look at the time difference to see where he is, he usually texts me and it’s the middle of our night.

“He seemed fine, he looked happy, he looked healthy – no reason for any kind of concern and then obviously I heard it on the news.”

‘Tell me this isn’t true’

Jodie said she “couldn’t believe” what was happening.

“I thought it was fake news, I tried to phone him. Obviously he wasn’t answering. I tried to text him, it wasn’t going to a ‘read’ message – normally it does quite quickly, then as I turned the telly on it was getting more and more apparent it wasn’t fake.”

Jodie texted Liam, saying: “Please tell me this isn’t true!”

“It’s a wicked waste of a life, he had a future ahead of him,” she said, adding that “family, friends, everyone loved him. It’s a real tragedy not only for us as friends and family but the whole world who know him as a celebrity and a pop singer.

“Obviously he’s got a very supportive mum and dad, his two sisters, I know he speaks very highly of Cheryl [Tweedy], he’s got a girlfriend… he’s got enough people to reach out to and he would have.

“He’s always got help if he needed it but as far as I’m concerned he was in a good place with everything going on in his personal life and his career as well, he had new things on the horizon on the telly and he seemed happy.”

Jodie said she would remember him as a “cheeky chappy” who would “make everyone laugh”.

“I just want people to look at Liam, look at everything, the legacy he’s left through X Factor, all his charity work and just remember him for the absolute idol he is.”

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.