Simon Cowell reflects on how it felt 'losing' Liam Payne

Simon Cowell has opened up about the heartbreaking moment he learned of Liam Payne’s death.

The former One Direction singer’s tragic passing has shaken fans and those who watched him grow from a teenage hopeful into a global star.

Cowell, who first met Payne when he auditioned for The X Factor at just 14, told The New York Times that the news hit him with devastating force.

“Somebody who works with me very closely came into my room,” he recalled. “I was up in the north of England, and I could tell by the look on her face that she was upset.”

“She said, ‘Sit down,’ and she told me. And it was like.. wow.”

Cowell mentioned that hearing the news of his death and the shock that came with it instantly reminded him of another painful loss he had faced once before in life.

“It was a bit like I felt when I heard the news when my dad passed away,” he confessed to the outlet. 

The music mogul admitted that moments like this are almost impossible to describe.

“It’s very difficult to put into words how you feel. It’s just shock. At that point, you’re not really thinking clearly,” he added.

Payne’s death continues to leave a void in the hearts of fans, friends, and the industry figures who helped shape his career.