Related Articles
Simon Cowell halted production on his show Britain’s Got Talent in the wake of One Direction alum Liam Payne’s Oct. 16 death at age 31. Simon Cowell is taking a break amid difficult news.
The 65-year-old has paused production on his ITV show Britain’s Got Talent following the shocking death of One Direction alum Liam Payne. The show had been filming auditions in Blackpool, England, prior to the “Strip That Down” singer’s death at 31. “Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today’s auditions in Blackpool,” Applause store, who organized tickets for filming, said in a statement per The Independent on Oct. 17. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Payne rose to fame on Cowell’s singing competition The X-Factor, when he selected him to team up with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik to form One Direction in 2010. The boyband quickly became a global sensation, releasing five albums in five years—four with Malik before his 2015 departure from the group—and touring all over the world. They ultimately went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016 to pursue solo projects.
Though Cowell, who mentored the group during their time on the show and subsequently signed them to his company Syco, has not yet spoken out in the wake of Payne’s death at age 31, X-Factor shared a heartfelt tribute.
“We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne,” read an Oct. 17 statement shared to the show’s official Instagram account, alongside a black and white photo of the late singer. “He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him.”
On Oct. 16, Payne suffered a fatal fall from the third-floor balcony of his hotel in Argentina, local medical personnel told Telemundo.
Following his death the family of the singer—who was dad to son Bear, 7, with ex Cheryl Cole, expressed their grief.
“We are heartbroken,” his family said in a statement, obtained by BBC. “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
They continued, “We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.”
For more celebrity tribures to Payne, read on.
