Simon Cowell shares his one regret following Liam Payne’s death

Simon Cowell has revealed the heartbreaking regret he has following Liam Payne's sudden death last year.

The One Direction singer, 31, died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 October 2024 after he fell from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel.

A post-mortem examination report revealed how Payne died of multiple traumas and 'internal and external haemorrhage'.

A coroner will seek full reports and eyewitness statements before a final inquest into the death of the singer, a pre-inquest review heard earlier this month.

Fans of 1D will remember that music mogul Cowell was actually the one who signed the band following their X Factor success in 2010.

In their years after they signed a contract with their international firm Syco, the group became the first boy band in US chart history to record two No. 1 albums in the same calendar year.

Cowell issued a statement after Payne's death last October, admitting he was 'truly devastated' and 'heartbroken' to hear the awful news.

One Direction star Liam Payne died last October (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

And now, just over a year on, the Britain's Got Talent judge, 66, has sat down with Rolling Stone for an interview, where he touched on Payne's tragic death.

Cowell said he 'wishes he could turn back the clock' and has questioned whether he could have done 'anything more'.

He recalled: "When I heard the news, it really hit me. I saw him a year before this happened. He came over to my house.

"We talked about his son and being a dad. I remember saying, 'Music is not everything. Don’t let it run your life anymore. Find something else that you are passionate about'."

He continued: "You ask yourself that question: 'Could I have done anything more? What would’ve happened to Liam if he hadn’t been in the band?' Having spoken to his mum and dad recently, all they kept telling me was he was so proud of what he had achieved.

"I wish I could turn back the clock, of course. When I spoke to him that day, I felt really good about him. I thought, 'Wow, you seem in a really good place'."

In the same interview, the music manager was asked about whether he found it 'hurtful' that people were 'casting blame' on him.

Simon Cowell, pictured at Payne's funeral, recently opened up about how the loss affected him (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Cowell explained that he doesn't read any of this stuff because it's just 'torturing yourself'.

"The idea that you are essentially responsible for somebody’s life, 10 years after you’ve signed someone? You can’t do that," the judge said.

Cowell's initial statement in response to Liam's death emotionally said that 'you never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens'.

He penned at the time: "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.

"This is so difficult to put into words right now. 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 you loved music. And how much love you genuinely had for the fans."

Liam fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, aged just 31 (Marc Piasecki/Getty Images)

The father-of-one continued: "I had to tell you when you were 14 that this wasn't your time. 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 know Liam. And you never forgot the fans. I watched you spending so much time with people who had wanted to meet you. You really cared.

"You came to see me last year. Not for a meeting. Just to sit and talk. 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 had met all of those years ago.

"I have met your son, Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in his eye that you have. And he will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it.

"I always thought the five of you in the band as brothers. And regarding their messages today I believe you were. And now Liam, I can see the effect you had on so many people. Because you left us too soon."