Liam Payne‘s family, friends, and former One Direction members paid their final respects to him on Wednesday, November 20. However, one man sparked negative attention on social media for allegedly making the funeral all about him. Fans slammed Simon Cowell for getting comforted by Liam’s parents, Geoff and Karen, instead of the other way around.
The X Factor creator attended the private service with his fiancée Lauren Silverman, wearing all-black ensembles. Although Cowell looked put together upon arrival, he could not hide his tears after meeting Geoff and Karen. An entertainment account shared a video of the encounter on X, capturing him getting consoled by Liam’s folks. The clip received no love from fans, with someone noting:
“It was the fact he was crying on Geoff’s shoulder… should’ve been the other way round, but no, Simon turns it into the Simon Cowell show. #SayNoToSimonCowell.”
Another displeased fan claimed Cowell was mourning the money he could have made by further exploiting One Direction members. A third echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the record executive had “blood on his hands.”
“He literally didn’t do sh-t to protect Liam or any of those boys,” the individual argued. They claimed Cowell’s management was “corrupt,” but one X user sympathized with the grieving mogul. The fan noted it was heartbreaking watching Cowell lose his composure over Liam’s loss.
The late singer’s private funeral occurred in Buckinghamshire, north-west of London, over a month after he died. Liam took his final breath breath on October 16 after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His former bandmates Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik attended the service.
Liam’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy and his former partner Cheryl, who he shares son Bear with, were among the mourners. Liam’s coffin arrived at the church on a white horse-drawn hearse carrying floral tributes that spelled “son” and “daddy.” BBC reported that a small crowd gathered outside the church, but fans respected the family’s privacy by staying away.
Simon Cowell Postponed ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Auditions Following Liam Payne’s Death
Cowell’s emotional reaction to Liam’s death started before his encounter with the singer’s parents. We covered how the TV personality could not continue his judging gig following news of his former protégé’s death. Britain’s Got Talent auditions were postponed because of Liam’s death. Cowell’s The X Factor show also penned a touching tribute to the late singer, reflecting on his legacy.
He rose to fame during the 2010 edition of the program’s UK version. Liam, alongside the other 1D members, became one of the world’s best-selling groups under Cowell’s management. However, the late singer’s pal, Katie Waissel, shared a different narrative about the record executive impact on Liam’s life.
In a heated rant, Waissel warned Cowell not to pen any tributes to Liam. “We all know the truth… and I’ll be sure it all comes out,” she claimed. The singer-songwriter noted that record producers like Cowell focused more on “profits rather than the people.” Waissel argued that by failing to prioritize the emotional and physical welfare of singers, people like Liam suffered unnecessarily. In her words, Cowell was the villain who ruined her friend’s life.
Does Simon Cowell’s emotional display at Liam Payne’s funeral prove he cared more than people believed?
