America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell opened up about a tragic loss in his life. The celebrity, who isn’t known for his vulnerability, wondered if he could have done more to prevent it.
Simon Cowell Mourns Tragic Loss
Simon Cowell has a knack for finding talent amid a sea of reality TV contestants. He helped launch the careers of American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, among others. He’s currently a judge on America’s Got Talent. But he hasn’t stopped looking for the next great musical wonder.
Years after hand-picking the members of One Direction from a batch of solo artists on The X Factor UK in 2010, Simon Cowell hopes for magic to happen again. He teamed up with Netflix for Simon Cowell: The Next Act. 16 aspiring male singers descend on Simon Cowell’s home in Miami Florida, to hopefully become part of a famous boy band.
Simon Cowell got candid on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast about the shocking death of One Direction member Liam Payne. The band went on hiatus in 2016, giving the performers a chance at pursuing solo careers. Liam Payne fell from his hotel room in Argentina in 2024. He was only 31.
The circumstances surrounding his death are still murky but the toxicology report. Five people were charged in connection with the death, but several of those charges have since been dropped.
‘Could I Have Done Anything More’?
Simon Cowell opened up on the podcast about feeling regret over Liam Payne’s death. He said, “You ask yourself that question: ‘Could I have done anything more? What would’ve happened to Liam if he hadn’t been in the band?’”
Simon Cowell added, “Having spoken to his mom and dad recently, all they kept telling me was he was so proud of what he had achieved.”
Simon Cowell received some blame in the media for Liam Payne’s death. He shared his unfiltered reaction to those claims. “The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody’s life, 10 years after you’ve signed someone? You can’t do that.”
The Last Time He Spoke To Liam Payne
While Simon Cowell refuses to take the blame, he wishes things could have gone differently. “I wish I could turn back the clock, of course. When I spoke to him that day, I felt really good about him. I thought, ‘Wow, you seem in a really good place.’”
He revealed more details about the last time he spoke to Liam Payne. “I saw him a year before this happened. He came over to my house. We talked about his son and being a dad. I remember saying, ‘Music is not everything. Don’t let it run your life anymore. Find something else that you are passionate about,’” he shared.
But Simon Cowell’s own passion is creating the next star. Simon Cowell: The Next Act premieres on Netflix on December 10, 2025.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
