Liam Payne tragically died on Wednesday at the age of 31 after falling from his hotel balcony in Argentina. Simon Cowell, who created the boy band One Direction on his UK X Factor show in 2010, had hoped for a reunion of the group, which had been one of his legacy projects.
Cowell reflected on the band’s unique success, which included Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. He had always anticipated that the group, which split in 2016, would return for a project in the future. Cowell expressed immense pride in their accomplishments.
A source connected to X Factor shared that Cowell recognized Payne’s talent long before One Direction was formed. “Simon felt that Liam was a star the first time they met,” the source stated. “This news will have shaken him to his core.”
Cowell had previously said, “I believe a reunion will happen at some point. I don’t know when, but it would be amazing for the fans. They are all on their different paths right now, but they would have such a great time coming back together.”
A TV insider who worked with Cowell on The X Factor and America’s Got Talent noted, “There is no doubt Simon is deeply upset by what’s happened to Liam. It is unfathomable that someone so young, who he enjoyed working with, is no longer around. He has fond memories of Liam and his journey.”
The insider added that Cowell had spotted Payne’s potential years before he joined One Direction. “He auditioned earlier, and Simon urged him to keep developing. The rest is history,” the insider said. Cowell praised Payne for his remarkable voice, stage presence, and warm personality.
“Simon also liked Liam’s family and will be heartbroken for them. For Liam to achieve so much with the band and personally made him very proud,” the source continued.
In the wake of this tragedy, Cowell is continuing his search for new talent alongside his Britain’s Got Talent auditions. He revealed that he has found seven young men for a new boy band after a challenging search. Cowell reviewed over 1,000 boys to select potential members for this “personal” project, emphasizing his responsibility to create the UK’s next great band.
“For me, groups are very personal,” Cowell stated. “Everyone has their own interpretation of what a perfect group should be. I like them to tell me why I should work with them.
You’re trying to envision someone’s future as a solo artist, but groups are the best way to launch a career.”
Cowell noted a current lack of boy bands in the pop landscape, especially with the absence of BTS and since One Direction’s split. “Of all the things I’ve done, working with groups is my favorite,” he said. “Because there isn’t a UK band around at the moment, I thought, well, you know what, I’m just going to do it.”
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