Simon Cowell reveals he was so devastated by Liam Payne’s death he fled to ‘private place’ alone for days to grieve
SIMON Cowell has revealed he was so devastated by Liam Payne’s death that he fled to a “private place” to be alone to grieve.
The former X Factor boss, 66, helped make Liam famous when he put One Direction together on the ITV show back in 2010 and was extremely close with the star.
Liam died aged 31 in October last year after falling from a balcony in Argentina.
Now Simon has recalled how he felt when he heard this tragic news for the first time.
The music mogul revealed he was at a Britain’s Got Talent audition when he was told the life-changing news.
Describing the impact, Simon told the Daily Mail: “Nothing has affected me like that since I lost my mum and dad. I remember how that felt and this was not far off.”
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He then revealed how he needed time alone to grieve and process what had happened.
He said he told his partner Lauren Silverman: “I’ve got to just go away somewhere on my own for a few days.”
Asked where he went, the star replied: “A private place. Like a retreat, where I was able to switch off. I just sort of meditated and thought about things, because I was so upset. Then you have to come back to your life again.”
Simon added: “I was so close to him. Obviously you drift apart over the years, but it’s true: you don’t know how you feel about someone until you lose them. People pass away, but when they’re so talented and young it’s hard.”
REACHING OUT
Last month, Simon revealed how he immediately reached out to Liam’s parents after learning of his death last year.
Speaking on The Interview podcast from The New York Times, Simon said:“It’s very difficult to put into words how you feel. It’s just shock.
“At that point, you’re not really thinking clearly. I just remember saying: ‘I really need to speak to his mum and dad. Can you get them on the phone as soon as possible please?’
“God, as a parent, what that must have felt like.
“I knew his mum and dad, and I wanted to reach out, just to say how I felt.
“It was just awful, awful.”
Recalling the last time he was with Liam, Simon added: “I’d seen him like a year before in this room and I was talking to him about there’s more to life than just music.
“You’ve got to a point in your life where you’ve got choice now.
“We just hung out as friends. That’s why I was so shocked and surprised when I heard the news.”
FINAL CONVERSATION
Heartbroken Simon also recently opened up about his final conversation with Liam before the singer’s tragic death.
Simon worked with the group right from the start – putting them together on The X Factor in 2010 with the help of Nicole Scherzinger.
Now the music mogul has shared details of the last time he saw Liam, revealing they spoke about his son Bear, seven, whose mum is Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, he said: “When I heard the news, it really hit me. I saw him a year before this happened. He came over to my house. We talked about his son and being a dad.”
Simon also shared the advice he gave Liam, continuing: “I remember saying, ‘Music is not everything. Don’t let it run your life anymore. Find something else that you are passionate about’.”
And Simon insisted he doesn’t feel responsible for the way Liam’s life played out – revealing he’s been in touch with the late musician’s family.
He said: “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?’
“Having spoken to his mum and dad recently, all they kept telling me was he was so proud of what he had achieved. I wish I could turn back the clock, of course.
“When I spoke to him that day, I felt really good about him. I thought, ‘Wow, you seem in a really good place’.
“The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody’s life, 10 years after you’ve signed someone? You can’t do that.”