Simon Cowell reflects on Liam Payne’s death, viewing One Direction as ‘sons’

Simon Cowell is reportedly devastated by the tragic death of former One Direction member Liam Payne, who passed away after falling from a third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires. Sources close to Cowell, 65, revealed that he is "gutted" by the news and sees Payne, along with Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan, as "like sons."

Speaking to DailyMail.com, an insider shared that Cowell is "going through so many emotions" and is reflecting on the time he spent with the band. "Simon has a son that he loves more than anything, and in essence, the boys from One Direction were his first set of sons," the source explained, adding that Cowell is considering how to support Payne’s family during this difficult time.

Cowell had signed One Direction to his label, Syco, after their successful run on The X Factor in 2010. He has temporarily paused filming of Britain’s Got Talent as he processes the news, with production expected to resume later this week. Payne’s family also issued a statement expressing their heartbreak, saying, "Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny, and brave soul".