Simon Cowell has addressed the criticism from some fans who blame him for the tragic passing of One Direction’s Liam Payne last year.
In October 2024, Payne tragically passed away at the age of 31 after a fall from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Payne was in Argentina to support his bandmate Niall Horan, who was performing in the city. A video captured him enjoying the concert, dancing along with the music.
A UK coroner later provided a preliminary cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries, or ‘polytrauma’, in January 2025, with a further hearing earlier this month.
According to the BBC, the inquest has been postponed until a review on May 7, 2026, due to ‘ongoing investigations in Argentina concerning the circumstances of Liam’s death’.
After his death, five individuals were arrested in connection to the incident. However, Argentinian authorities have since dismissed manslaughter charges against one of Payne’s friends and two hotel staff members.
Cowell, who played a pivotal role in Payne’s rise to fame as a member of One Direction in 2010, was among those who shared their condolences following the singer’s passing.
In his statement, Cowell expressed: “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens. 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.”
In a recent interview on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, Cowell addressed the criticism directed at him by some fans in the wake of Payne’s death.
“I don’t read any of this stuff because if I did, you would just torture yourself,” the 66-year-old remarked. “The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody’s life, ten years after you’ve signed someone? You can’t do that.”
Payne’s passing deeply affected Cowell, who shared: “When I heard the news, it really hit me. I saw him a year before this happened. He came over to my house. We talked about his son and being a dad.
“I remember saying, ‘Music is not everything. Don’t let it run your life anymore. Find something else that you are passionate about.’ You ask yourself that question: “Could I have done anything more? What would’ve happened to Liam if he hadn’t been in the band?”
He continued: “Having spoken to his mom and dad recently, all they kept telling me was he was so proud of what he had achieved. I wish I could turn back the clock, of course.
“When I spoke to him that day, I felt really good about him. I thought, “Wow, you seem in a really good place.”