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Liam Payne’s passing has shocked many in the entertainment industry, as well as One Direction fans and social media users. Liam Payne died on October 16 after falling from the third floor of the Casa Sur hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. According to the forensic medical team of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina, the singer died immediately from the impact of the fall, which caused “multiple trauma and internal and external bleeding.”
Since the news of his death was shared, several artists have shared their condolences and tributes to Payne, including some of the colleagues with whom he starred on ‘The X Factor,’ such as Katie Waissel. The singer has been active on social media since Payne’s death was confirmed. In addition to publishing a message of condolences, she has attacked Simon Cowell and his record company.
“My heart is completely torn to shreds right now; I am at an absolute loss for words. If Simon Cowell dares to make a statement about the heartbreaking and tragic loss of my dear, beloved friend Liam, I would be a fool. We all know the truth… and I will make sure it comes out,” she shared on X. Cowell met Payne in 2008 when he took part in ‘The X Factor’ for the first time. Liam returned to the show in 2010 when Cowell united the quintet that became the global pop sensation One Direction. The group finished third and Cowell signed them to Syco Records after their appearance on the show.
In a longer post shared by the singer on October 17, she called attention to the nature of the entertainment industry and how it fails to protect children. “His tragic passing not only leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of those who loved him but also serves as a painful reminder of the systemic neglect that persists in the industry,” argued Waissel.
Instead of taking “responsibility to provide the care and support necessary for the well-being of young artists,” leaders in the industry, often with power to determine the future of these young stars, are too focused on extracting profits. Waissel pointed to an interview Simon Cowell conducted with Steven Bartlett, where he admits his biggest regret was not owning the band name, One Direction.
In a later post, Waissel put forward the need for change in the music industry. “I call for an immediate investigation into SyCo Entertainment for negligence and breach of duty of care. Artists are not commodities and their well-being must be a priority,” said wrote.
The post has been liked over 60,000 times, and many on social media agree that there needs to be changes to the industry to better protect the rights of child stars. Liam’s struggles with addiction hurt many people close to him, and though responsibility needs to be taken, for Waissel affording young talent with greater protections could have avoided the creation of some of these destructive cycles.
