‘Devastated’ and ‘heartbroken’ Simon Cowell pays tribute after Liam Payne’s death

Simon Cowell has paid his tributes to the singer Liam Payne following his death on 16 October in Buenos Aires.

Sharing a post on his Instagram account, Cowell said, “Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty.”

Simon has played a major role in the rise of One Direction.

Payne rose to fame in 2008 when at the age of 14, he auditioned for The X Factor and was told by Simon to try two years later.

In 2010, Payne returned to perform solo but was offered to form a group alongside Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.

Cowell added, “I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.”