Simon Cowell denies allegations linking him to Liam Payne’s struggles

Simon Cowell is pushing back against claims that he played a role in the death of former One Direction member Liam Payne. During an appearance on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, Cowell was asked about criticism from some fans who believe he put too much pressure on Payne and failed to guide him through the challenges of sudden fame.

Cowell said he avoids reading online speculation, explaining, “I don’t read any of this stuff because if I did, you would just torture yourself. The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody’s life, 10 years after you’ve signed someone? You can’t do that.”

Cowell, 66, created “The X Factor,” the show where Payne first rose to prominence. Payne auditioned twice, the second time in 2010, when Cowell and the judges placed him alongside Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Harry Styles. The newly formed group became One Direction, ultimately finishing third in the competition. Cowell’s label, Syco Records, later signed them, launching one of the biggest pop acts of the decade.

“Every tear I have shed is a memory of you,” Cowell wrote. (Getty Images)

Payne died last October at age 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. Authorities reported multiple drugs in his system. In the wake of his death, some critics accused Cowell and the entertainment industry of putting intense pressure on young performers.

Cowell said he met with Payne about a year before the tragedy and offered personal advice about stepping back from stress. He recalled telling him, “Music is not everything. Don’t let it run your life anymore. Find something else that you are passionate about.”

Cowell admitted he has reflected on whether more could have been done, saying, “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 also said he believed Payne was “in a really good place” during their last meeting. “I wish I could turn back the clock, of course,” he shared. “When I spoke to him that day, I felt really good about him.”

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Cowell was among the first to pay tribute publicly after Payne’s death on Oct. 16, 2024. In an emotional statement, he wrote, “You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens. Liam, I am 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.”

He also praised Payne’s generosity toward fans, writing that the singer “never [forgot] the fans” and often went out of his way to spend time with them. Cowell later attended Payne’s funeral in the UK in November 2024, where he was seen embracing the late singer’s parents.

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