Simon Cowell is reflecting on one of the most challenging moments of his life — the death of Liam Payne.
In a recent episode of The New York Times podcast The Interview, Cowell shared how he received the news of the One Direction member’s passing. He recounted:
“Someone who works closely with me came into my room. I was in northern England, and I could see from her expression that she was upset. She said, ‘Sit down,’ and then she told me. It was like — wow.”
Related: Simon Cowell Responds to Claims of Responsibility for Liam Payne’s Death
Cowell struggled to articulate his emotions at that moment but compared it to the grief he felt when his father passed away:
“It was somewhat similar to how I felt when I heard about my dad. It’s hard to describe the feelings. It’s just shock. At that moment, clarity is absent.”
His immediate desire was to contact Liam’s parents:
“I remember saying: ‘I really need to speak to his mum and dad. Can you get them on the phone as soon as possible?’ Because, as a parent, I could only imagine their pain. I knew his parents, and I wanted to reach out to express my condolences. It was just devastating.”
The news was particularly shocking for Cowell because he believed Liam was in a good place. He recalled meeting with the singer a year prior to his death and remarked that Liam appeared to be thriving:
“I had seen him about a year earlier. I remember him walking into the room, and I said: ‘You look amazing, Liam. What’s your secret?’ He mentioned going to the gym and other things.”
Cowell also reminisced about their conversation regarding Liam’s son, Bear, whom he shares with ex-partner Cheryl Cole:
“We discussed being a father and how meaningful that role is. I was telling him that there’s more to life than just music; he had reached a point where he had choices. We were just hanging out as friends, which is why I was so shocked when I heard the news.”
The impact of Liam’s death on Cowell is difficult to fathom. You can watch Simon discuss this tragedy in the video below:
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[Image via MEGA/WENN, The Interview/YouTube]
