Simon Cowell Breaks Silence After Liam Payne's Death: 'Truly Devastated'

Simon Cowell, who brought One Direction together on the reality show "The X Factor," said he is "heartbroken" following member Liam Payne's death.

Payne fell from the third floor of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday. He was 31.

Payne died from "multiple trauma" and "internal and external hemorrhage" from the fall, according to the preliminary autopsy report released Thursday by the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office No. 14.

Cowell paid tribute to the late star on Instagram Friday.

"Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty," Cowell wrote. "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."

Cowell said people often asked him about Payne.

"And I would tell them you were kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused," Cowell said. "And how much you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans."

Cowell created "The X Factor" and was a judge on multiple seasons of the show, including the two seasons Payne auditioned for in 2008 and 2010.

Payne was 14 when he auditioned in 2008. He did not advance in the competition and Cowell told him to come back in two years.

In 2010, Cowell brought together Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan to form One Direction. The group finished third in the reality competition but signed a record deal with Cowell's label Syco Music after the show.

"I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn't your time," Cowell said. "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."

Cowell shared that he reunited with Payne last year.

"You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk," Cowell said. "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."

He said he also had the opportunity to meet Payne's 7-year-old 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," Cowell said.

Cowell said he always thought of the One Direction members as "brothers." He said Payne "left us too soon" and sent "love, prayers and thoughts" to his family.

Cowell is also the creator of "Britain's Got Talent." He canceled a taping of the show on Thursday.

Payne's girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, thanked people for their "kind words and love."

"I have been at a complete loss," Cassidy said on Instagram. "Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you'll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private."

She said Payne is her "everything."

"I want you to know that I loved you unconditionally and completely," Cassidy said. "I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam."

Cheryl Cole, the mother of Payne's son Bear, also posted a tribute to Payne on Instagram.

"As I try to navigate this earth shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I'd like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being," Cole said. "Liam was not only a pop star and a celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again."

She said she is concerned that her son will someday see "the abhorrent reports and media exploitation" following Payne's death.

"It is breaking my heart further that I cannot protect him from that in the future," Cole said. "I am begging you to consider what use some of these reports are serving, other than to cause further harm to everyone left behind picking up the pieces. Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them. Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at least."

Styles, Tomlinson, Malik and Horan released a joint statement following Payne's death.

"We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly," the band members posted on Instagram.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.