The day has finally come when Simon Cowell’s newest series, Simon Cowell: The Next Act has premiered on Netflix. The show, which is centered around Cowell’s attempt to create the next big boy band, was in production when Liam Payne passed away on October 16, 2024.
Simon Cowell Remembers Liam Payne on Simon Cowell: The Next Act
After auditioning 100s of young men, Cowell finally determined his short list of boys set for a callback. With the 16 candidates set to fly out to America to work with Cowell and his team, the news of Payne’s passing became national headlines. Nearly days after his passing, the music mogul got in front of the camera, teary-eyed to discuss meeting Payne for the first time.
Apparently, after hearing of Payne’s death, Cowell reached out to the singer’s parents, and asked how they are able to go on with the passing of their son. He then looked back at the first time he met Payne.
“I remember thinking, what a sweet, humble boy, he was just so normal and down to earth, Cowell said while remembering Payne’s X Factor UK audition. “He always had a sparkle in his eye, I remember that.”
He noted especially that “everyone adored him” in the audience and judging panel. He finished his statement off stating “you just don’t know how you feel about someone until you lose them.”
From there, Cowell took time off from the search, as well as Britain’s Got Talent which happened to be filming at the same time. To process his grief, Cowell went away from friends and family to regroup.
“This completely changes everything,” he said before leaving. “I don’t know if I can do anything for a while.”
He Almost Canceled His Search
Once Cowell returned from processing his grief, he got real about his decision to continue creating Simon Cowell: The Next Act. He detailed that he took in his grief as if it was his son Eric, questioning if this initiative is the best move for the boys who are apart of the show.
“Being in the music business it was tough 10 years ago, 20 years ago, I would argue now it’s even more stressful but I also think about the day I called the boys and how they felt, and I know how much they want this,” he said. “I made them a promise and I believe we have to fulfill that promise and I can’t take this opportunity away from them I just can’t.”
Ultimately, he decided to, three weeks later, meet with the boys and their parents to explain exactly what goes into being in the public eye. He explained that music as a career can be extremely rewarding, the but the side effects include losing privacy, rumors beginning, and more.
“I do care about the people I work with,” Cowell said. “I mean I genuinely care and if we’re going to go forward with the boys, it will be my absolute belief and support if you have concerns about anything, call me.”
The music mogul then admitted he’s not sure who will end up in the band as of the episode, but he had to speak to them as if it were his son who was in the situation. Parents of the auditioning boys seemed to feel better regarding the scale of it all, after meeting with Cowell.
Words by:
Corey Cesare Corey Cesare is Talent Recap's Managing Editor and featured YouTube Host. She has a love of all things pop culture and an unhealthy obsession with celebrities. Corey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Cinema/Screen Studies from the State University of New York at Oswego in 2021. She spends her spare time shooting astro, nature, and portrait photography, and coming up with movie ideas that she hopes to make into a film someday.
