Tulad ng libu-libong tagahanga, mga kaibigan, pamilya, at dating nakatrabaho ni Liam Payne, labis-labis din ang kalungkutan at pagdadalamhati ni Simon Cowell sa pagpanaw ng dating One Direction member.
Si Liam ay miyembro ng One Direction, ang English-Irish pop boy band na binuo ni Simon noong 2010.
Si Simon ang isa sa mga hurado ng The X Factor UK, ang British music competition na nakatuklas sa talento ni Liam at former One Direction members na sina Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, at Niall Horan.
Read: Simon Cowell, inuulan ng hate comments sa pagpanaw ni Liam Payne
Bagamat nabuwag ang One Direction noong 2015, malinaw pa sa alaala ni Simon ang pinangdaanan ng grupo at kung paano niya noon nakilala si Liam.
Sa kanyang Instagram post noong Sabado, October 19, 2024, inihayag ni Simon ang kanyang saloobin sa biglaang pagpanaw ni Liam noong October 16.
Read: Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies in Argentina at 31
Mababasa sa kanyang post (published as is): "You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens.
"Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty. And I want you to know how much love and respect I have for you.
"Every tear I have shed is a memory of you.
"This is so difficult to put in words right now. I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together."
Read: Niall Horan recounts last moments with Liam Payne
SIMON COWELL DESCRIBES LIAM PAYNE AS A PERSON
Bata pa lang si Liam nang makilala siya ni Simon.
Ayon kay Simon, noon hanggang sa araw ng pagkamatay nito ay hindi nagbago si Liam na nakilala niyang isa sa mga totoong tao.
Read: Liam Payne, nag-upload ng photos isang oras bago pumanaw
Labing-apat na taong gulang lamang si Liam nang sumali siya sa The X Factor noong 2008.
Sixteen years old naman siya nang maging miyembro ng One Direction, kunsaan si Simon ang bumuo.
Read: One Direction member Liam Payne's cause of death revealed
Paglalarawan ni Simon kay Liam (published as is): "I wanted to let you know what I would always say to the thousands of people who would always ask me. What is Liam like? And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused. And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans.
"I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn't your time. And we both made a promise that we would meet again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn't.
"You came back and within months the whole world knew Liam. And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet vou. You reall cared."
SIMON RECALLS LAST MOMENTS WITH LIAM
Inalala at muli ring binalikan ni Simon ang mga huling sandaling kasama niya si Liam.
Kita at ramdam daw noon ni Simon kung gaano ka-proud si Liam na ikuwento sa kanya ang mga karanasan niya bilang first-time dad ni Bear Grey, 7, ang anak niya sa singer na si Cheryl Cole na dating miyembro ng pop girl group na Girls Aloud.
Pagbabalik-tanaw ni Simon: "You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. And we reminisced about all of the fun times we had together. And how proud you were to be a Dad.
"After you left, I was reminded that you were still the sweet, kind boy I met all of those years ago.
"I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eyes you have.
And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it."
Read: Liam Payne, nag-upload ng photos sa Snapchat isang oras bago pumanaw
Sa huli, sinabi ni Simon na mananatili sa alaala niya si Liam kasama ang apat pa nitong dating kagrupo na sina Harry, Zayn, Louis, at Niall na nauna nang nagpahayag ng kanilang pagdadalhati kay Liam.
Read: One Direction members "devastated" by Liam Payne's death
Ani Simon: "I always thought of the 5 of you in the band as brothers. And reading their messages today I believe you were.
"And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon.
"Rest in peace my friend. And I am sending my love, thoughts and prayers to your family."
Read: Liam Payne "forced" to stay in Argentina over visa issues