Simon Cowell has revealed Liam Payne's death has left him feeling "empty".
On Friday, the record executive took to social media to remember the One Direction star, following his shock death on Wednesday.
Cowell was instrumental in Payne's rise to fame, having put One Direction together in 2010 for the UK TV show The X Factor.
"You never really know how you feel about someone until a moment like this happens," Cowell wrote on Instagram. "Liam, I am truly devastated. Heartbroken. And I feel empty."
He continued: "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 also revealed he had been thinking about his time spent with the 31-year-old star since Payne shot to fame as a teenager.
The TV judge shared that had always described the singer as "kind, funny, sweet, thoughtful, talented, humble, focused" when fans of the iconic boyband quizzed him about the heartthrob.
In his emotional post, Cowell recalled meeting Payne in 2023, with the pair "reminiscing" about the past, as Cowell insisted Payne was "still the sweet, kind boy" he had met all those years ago.
Cowell revealed that Payne had also discussed how proud he was to be a dad to his seven-year-old son Bear.
"I have met your son, Bear," he said. "He has your smile and that twinkle in his eyes you have. And he will be so proud of everything you achieved."
Cowell finished off the tribute by sending his condolences to Payne's loved ones as he sadly insisted the star had "left us too soon".
The One Direction singer died after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
