Simon Cowell breaks silence on Liam Payne's death, says 'every tear I have shed is a memory of you'

LONDON, ENGLAND: Simon Cowell has paid tribute to former One Direction member Liam Payne following his tragic death at 31.

Liam Payne died after falling from his third-floor balcony at a Buenos Aires hotel, shocking fans and friends alike.

Simon, 65, who mentored Liam after meeting him at the age of 14, and formed One Direction, shared a heartfelt post on Instagram expressing his grief and recalling their special bond.

Simon Cowell recalls his memories with Liam Payne, says 'I feel empty'

In a touching message, Simon Cowell wrote about the deep impact Liam Payne had on his life and career.

"You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens," Cowell shared.

"Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you," he went on.

"Every tear I have shed is a memory of you. This is so difficult to put into words right now," Cowell added.

He recalled spending time with Liam and how deeply they connected over the years.

"I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together," he noted in his post.

Simon Cowell praises Liam Payne as a 'talented and kind human'

Simon Cowell praised Liam Payne's kindness and dedication, both to his art and to his fans.

"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," Cowell wrote.

He reflected on how much Liam cared for his supporters, saying, "And how much love you genuinely had for the fans."

Simon also noted the time he had to tell Liam at age of 14 that it wasn't his time yet but admired the singer's persistence.

"A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t. You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam," he added.

Cowell admired the way Liam always made time for his fans, saying, "I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared."

Simon Cowell reflects on his bond with Liam Payne

Simon Cowell also opened up on personal moments with Liam Payne, including a recent visit.

"You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all of the fun times we had together," he recalled.

Cowell also fondly remembered how proud Liam was of being a father, saying, "After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I had met all of those years ago."

He also shared a meeting with Liam's seven-year-old son, Bear, and noticed the striking similarity between father and son.

"I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have," he wrote.

Reflecting on Liam's lasting impact, Cowell concluded his tribute with, "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. And I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family."

Simon Cowell formed One Direction which made global success 

Simon Cowell, who worked with Liam Payne during his early career, first met the singer when he auditioned for 'The X Factor' in 2008 and 2010.

After the second audition, Simon formed the boy band One Direction with Liam, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik.

The group signed with Simon's record label after placing third on the seventh series of the show. One Direction went on to achieve global success before splitting in 2016.

Simon has also canceled the upcoming 'Britain’s Got Talent' auditions following Liam's death.