‘Empty’ Simon Cowell makes first public appearance since Liam Payne’s death

Simon Cowell has made his archetypal nationalist quality since the decease of Liam Payne, aft stepping distant from Britain’s Got Talent pursuing the quality past week.

Payne died aged 31 after falling disconnected a balcony astatine a edifice successful Buenos Aires, Argentina connected October 16.

Five days aft the heartbreaking tragedy, Cowell, 65, attended the 2024 Pride of Britain Awards connected Monday night. The father-of-one, who shares lad Eric with spouse Lauren Silverman, had earlier posted connected Instagram saying helium felt ’empty’ and ‘devastated’ by Payne’s death.

He understandably did not privation to locomotion the reddish carpet, and alternatively headed consecutive to the ceremonial held successful London’s The Grosvenor House Hotel.

Cowell was astatine the lawsuit to wage tribute to his friend, Peter Willis, a writer and erstwhile Mirror Editor who created the Pride of Britain Awards successful 1999 to observe the nation’s unsung heroes.

The euphony mogul spoke connected signifier to observe Willis’ achievements.

Cowell’s quality comes after helium cancelled Britain’s Got Talent auditions.

Applause Store, who organised the tickets for BGT filming, said successful a statement: ‘Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today’s auditions successful Blackpool. We apologise for immoderate inconvenience this whitethorn cause.’

The accumulation began again connected Saturday successful Blackpool Winter Gardens, but without Cowell, who has decided to measurement away.

Bruno Tonioli has been brought successful to cover. He was antecedently replaced by YouTuber KSI, owed to his filming commitments with Dancing With The Stars successful the US.

Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and impermanent justice KSI, who was hired arsenic the impermanent replacement for Tonioli, besides continued with the programme.

Cowell archetypal met Payne erstwhile helium was 14 years old, and auditioned for The X Factor.

He made it to the Judges’ Houses signifier with Cowell but was told to instrumentality successful 2 years.

That is what helium did successful 2010, and this clip Payne was placed into a set with Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles, forming One Direction.

They finished successful 3rd presumption and were signed by Cowell’s label, Syco Entertainment. One Direction became 1 of the astir palmy lad bands successful history, with hits including What Makes You Beautiful, Night Changes, and Steal My Girl.

The radical went connected an indefinite hiatus successful 2016, arsenic the singers each embarked connected palmy solo careers.

On Saturday, Cowell returned to societal media with a tribute for Payne.

‘You ne'er truly cognize however you consciousness astir idiosyncratic until a infinitesimal similar this happens,’ helium wrote.

‘Liam, I americium devastated. Heartbroken. And I consciousness empty. And I privation you to cognize however overmuch emotion and respect I person for you. Every teardrop I person shed is simply a representation of you.’

Cowell described Payne arsenic ‘kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused’.

‘I had to archer you erstwhile you were 14 that this wasn’t your time. And we some made a committedness that we would conscionable again,’ Cowell recalled.

‘A batch of radical would person fixed up. You didn’t. You came backmost and wrong months the full satellite knew Liam. And you ne'er forgot the fans. I watched you spending truthful overmuch clip with radical who had wanted to conscionable you. You truly cared.’

Cowell added that they’d precocious reminisced astir amusive times they’d shared. He besides said his seven-year-old son, Bear had a ‘twinkle successful his oculus that you have’.

He concluded: ‘Liam, I americium devastated. Heartbroken. And I consciousness empty.’

Payne antecedently credited Cowell for helping his romance with Cheryl, who precocious shared her ain statement, statesman to blossom. The brace dated for 2 years from 2016 and welcomed Bear into the satellite together.

‘I went to Simon’s location and made a gag astir however blistery Cheryl was. Simon was like, “I cognize who’s going to beryllium the next Mrs Payne!’ helium said connected the Straight Talking with Ant Middleton podcast.

‘Then I was successful a barroom and Niall came successful and told maine that Cheryl liked me. I was similar “Cheryl? Cheryl?” Niall was successful Simon’s dressing room, Simon said my name, she went reddish and left.’

Payne’s autopsy is inactive taking spot but respective sources person informed assorted outlets that respective drugs were recovered successful the singer’s system astatine the clip of his death.

The precocious prima was staying astatine the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and section constabulary are presently investigating his death.

Metro.co.uk has contacted The Pride of Britain Awards organisers for remark

The Pride of Britain Awards airs connected Thursday astatine 8pm connected ITV

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