Liam Payne’s pals reveal One Direction singer felt like a ‘caged animal’ while working with Simon Cowell

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: January 2016 marked the end of an era for millions of One Direction fans, considering the band officially announced they were parting ways.

But for Liam Payne, it was more than just a goodbye to his boy band days—it was a chance to finally step out from under the shadow of Simon Cowell, the British music mogul who had a huge hand in shaping their career.

Simon — who brought the five boys together on 'The X Factor' in 2010 — had been pulling the strings behind the scenes for years. He played a major role in their meteoric rise and his influence over their lives was also undeniable.

For Liam, breaking away from that control was a big deal. He saw it as his chance to forge his own path.

Liam Payne made big move with Capitol Records deal

While his bandmates like Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson chose to stick with Sony's labels after the split—where Simon Cowell's influence was still strong—Liam Payne made a different move. He struck a multi-million pound deal with Capitol Records, stepping outside of Cowell’s orbit.

As a source shared with the Daily Mail, “Liam was so delighted to shed himself of Cowell and Sony. It was the new start he needed.”

The decision spoke volumes about the strained (if not completely broken) relationship between Liam and Simon. From that point on, the two hardly interacted and it seemed clear that any warmth between them had been lost considerably.

Even Simon's statement last week following Liam’s tragic fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires hinted at some unresolved feelings. “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens. Liam, I am devastated,” he wrote on Instagram.

Was there regret in those words? Who knows. But one thing’s for sure—Liam was eager to leave behind the days of working under Simon's rules. According to friends, he often felt like a “caged animal” during that time and the freedom he found after leaving Sony was something he truly cherished.

Liam Payne did not give in to Simon Cowell's demands

Once free, Liam Payne didn't hesitate to stand up to Simon Cowell's demands. A prime example was the band’s refusal to reunite on 'The X Factor' stage in December 2016, nearly a year after their hiatus began.

The occasion was Louis Tomlinson’s solo performance, which came shortly after his mother Johannah Deakin had passed away from cancer.

Simon had urged the boys to appear together to support Louis, but Liam wasn’t having it.

“The fact it would benefit Simon so much to have the whole band back together on his show was galling for Liam,” a friend told the Daily Mail. Known for being “very forthright and assertive when it came to what he felt was the right thing,” Liam didn’t think they should do the reunion on Simon’s terms.

"As far as Liam was concerned, it was typical Simon. Simon said jump, the boys had to ask how high," the friend added.

So, while the four of them showed up at the studio in London to support Louis from behind the scenes, they refused to step on stage.

Life for One Direction members under Simon Cowell's management

Back in the day, One Direction quickly became a cash cow for Simon Cowell's label Syco, raking in millions with their first album in 2011. But that success came at a price.

As a source from the music industry put it, “Liam and the boys couldn’t go out and do what other boys of their age were doing. They were cash cows, pure and simple. There seemed little care for the band’s mental health though, and how it would affect them in the future.”

Their schedule was no joke, especially during the 2013 Take Me Home tour where the band performed 124 shows in just 10 months. It was a whirlwind, but the cracks started showing in March 2015 when Zayn Malik left mid-tour citing stress. Liam had hoped this would be a wake-up call for Simon to ease up on the pressure, but that wasn’t the case.

By January 2016, the band went on what was initially called an “indefinite hiatus", but fans knew it was the end of One Direction as they knew it.

Simon has always maintained that he gave One Direction their fame and fortunes, but he never sugar-coated the price of stardom. He’d warned them about the pressures and demands that would come with being in the spotlight. And he wasn’t wrong—they each walked away with millions, but the emotional toll was something else entirely.

Liam and Simon did have a sit-down last year, just to chat. But was it too little too late already?

One of Liam’s friends summed it up: “It all seemed so exciting back in the beginning. Those around Liam just wish there had been more support at the time.”

It’s hard to say how things might have turned out if the pressures had been different, but one thing’s for sure—Liam was determined to carve out his own path in life.