Simon Cowell is taking time to mourn Liam Payne in private.
Following the news of the One Direction star’s tragic death on Wednesday, the accomplished record executive has hit pause on auditions for the upcoming season of Britain’s Got Talent. ApplauseStore, the company that manages tickets for the show, confirmed the postponement on X (Twitter) in the early morning hours of Thursday, writing:
“Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today’s auditions in Blackpool. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Related: Liam Payne’s Family Speaks Out In The Wake Of His Tragic & Untimely Death
See (below):
Due to the tragic passing of Liam Payne, BGT has decided to postpone today's auditions in Blackpool. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
— ApplauseStore® (@ApplauseStoreUK) October 17, 2024
According to Us Weekly, shortly after the announcement, co-host duo Ant and Dec were seen leaving a hotel near where the show was set to be filmed on Thursday. Simon had posted from set the day before the 31-year-old’s death. In photos obtained by DailyMail.com, the 65-year-old was seen riding in the backseat of a car in Blackpool, England, wearing sunglasses and looking somber on Thursday. He has not made a public comment about the devastating loss yet.
As Directioners know, Liam got his start on The X Factor back in 2008 when he was just 14. He auditioned as a solo act and advanced to boot camp. But he was eventually cut, with Simon urging him to return in two years’ time. That’s exactly what he did in 2010 — leading to the formation of the now-iconic band 1D, including members Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson.
The group took third place on the show and quickly became one of the most famous bands in the world. They worked closely with Simon after the show, too, as they signed with his Syco Records. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Mourning the loss, the official Instagram account of The X Factor paid tribute to the Story of My Life crooner by sharing a black-and-white photo of him, writing:
“We are heartbroken by the sad passing of Liam Payne. He was immensely talented and, as part of One Direction, Liam will leave a lasting legacy on the music industry and fans around the world. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and all who loved him.”
Simon, the 1D boys, and all of Liam’s loved ones are in our thoughts right now. This loss is hard enough for fans, and we cannot imagine how difficult it is for those who knew him so well and for so long. May they get all the time and support they need to process this tragedy.
R.I.P.
[Image via Lia Toby/John Rainford/WENN]
