Simon Cowell embraces Liam Payne's grieving parents at his funeral, annoyed fans ask 'Who invited him?'

AMERSHAM, ENGLAND: Simon Cowell was seen overcome with emotion during the private funeral of Liam Payne where he shared heartfelt moments with the late singer's parents, Geoff and Karen Payne.

The music mogul, who played a pivotal role in forming 'One Direction' on The X Factor, was visibly emotional as he embraced Payne’s father, Geoff, who tightly wrapped his arm around Cowell.

Simon Cowell breaks down at Liam Payne’s funeral

In a second image, Cowell can be seen wiping tears from his eyes as Geoff offers a comforting touch on his back.

Cowell, who attended the service with his fiancee Lauren Silverman, was not alone in his grief. Payne’s former bandmates, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles, were also present to pay their respects at the memorial in Amersham, England.

Last month, Cowell took to social media to share his sorrow following Payne's tragic passing at 31. In an emotional Instagram tribute, Cowell described the lasting impact of Payne's kindness, humor, and humility.

"I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together," Cowell wrote, adding “Liam, I am devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you.”

The music mogul also recalled how Payne's perseverance led to his success after being initially rejected from The X Factor at 14. Cowell praised Payne for never giving up on his dreams and for the profound love he had for his fans.

Simon Cowell faces backlash after attending Liam Payne's funeral

Simon Cowell’s attendance at Liam Payne's funeral has sparked significant controversy, with many fans expressing their disapproval of the music mogul’s presence at the private service.

Liam Payne, a beloved member of One Direction, tragically passed away at 31 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur hotel in Argentina. His funeral, held in Buckinghamshire, was an intimate gathering attended by his former bandmates and those closest to him, including Cowell, who had mentored Payne and his bandmates on The X Factor in 2011.

Despite Cowell's respectful appearance, wearing a suit and turtleneck alongside his fiancée Lauren Silverman, fans on X (formerly Twitter) voiced strong criticism of his decision to attend. Many questioned his motives, with some accusing him of hypocrisy due to past controversies surrounding his treatment of the band.

One user commented, "Simon Cowell has some nerve by attending Liam’s funeral. He had no right to be there after all the bs he put those 5 guys through, especially Liam. I pray Liam is finally at peace. He is and will always be missed. He'll never be forgotten."

Another wrote, “Who invited him??” expressing frustration over Cowell’s involvement in the ceremony.

"My actual reaction seeing simon cowell have the audacity of showing up to liam’s funeral," another user commented.

One user wrote, "I won’t quote anything or post anything but simon cowell has some fucking nerve to show up at his funeral…"

"Why the fuck was there paparazzi at liam paynes funeral and why the fuck was simon cowell there" a user said. Another added, "Simon Cowell shouldn't be at Liam Payne's funeral js."

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