Simon Cowell breaks silence and says he ‘feels empty’ over Liam Payne’s dying

Simon Cowell has released an emotional statement paying tribute to Liam Payne.

The pop sensation, aged just 31, fell from the third-floor balcony straight down into the courtyard of the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

Simon, 65, first met Liam when he auditioned for The X-Factor aged 14, and the music mogul has now shared a post on Instagram.

READ MORE: One Direction tributes to Liam Payne in full – vow to son, goodbye hug and regret

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It read: ‘You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens.

“Liam I am 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 into words right now.”

He continued: “I went outside today, and I thought about so many times we had together.

“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 love you genuinely had for the fans.”

Liam was rejected in his first try on The X Factor but Simon encouraged him to return. He did so two years later when the band One Direction was formed.