Simon Cowell breaks cover after Liam Payne's death at Pride of Britain Awards

Simon Cowell is set to miss the annual awards ceremony (Image: Getty)

Simon Cowell attended the annual Pride of Britain Awards just days after the tragic death of Liam Payne. It comes after the music mogul pulled out of Britain's Got Talent auditions last week after the news of Liam's death was confirmed.

One Direction star Liam Payne tragically died aged 31 on Wednesday 16 October after falling from a balcony at his hotel in Argentina. The pop star worked closely with Simon when he was on the ITV talent show, The X Factor, in 2010.

Following his sudden death, Simon cancelled Britain's Got Talent auditions the following day in Blackpool as a mark of respect. On Friday, auditions resumed but Simon was replaced by Bruno Tonioli.

He then posted a statement on Instagram, penning: "You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens."

Simon continued: "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."

Liam worked closely with Simon Cowell (Image: Getty)

It has since been revealed that Liam had been dropped by his record label just days before his death. Meanwhile, Simon was celebrating his 65th birthday outside his mansion, telling his fans that he was “alive, healthy, and happy.”

One Direction was formed on the talent show in 2010 by Simon Cowell, which later resulted in five albums, all of which topped the charts, and more than 70 million record sales.

The boy band sadly broke up in 2016, with Liam embarking on a solo career with Capitol Records. He was later moved to the main label during a company reshuffle, a move he was reportedly excited about, having been "thrilled" to work with such a prestigious label.

Liam embarked on a solo career in July 2016 (Image: Getty)

Despite this, Liam's 2019 solo album 'LP1' received lukewarm responses from critics and audiences alike, failing to make a lasting impression on the charts.

Critics pointed out the lack of a unique sound in the album, which quickly fell from its peak position of number 17 on the UK album chart.

However, it's understood that Liam's sophomore release was shelved before Universal made the decision to part ways with him, reports the Mirror.

Tragically, his former label Universal Music Group paid homage to the artist on social media, stating: "We are devastated by the tragic passing of Liam Payne. His legacy will live on through his music and the countless fans he inspired and who adored him".

Simon's representatives have been contacted for comment by Express Online.