Overview
- Cowell tells Rolling Stone that news of Payne’s death “really hit me” and recalls urging him not to let music run his life.
- He says he does not accept claims he is responsible for Payne’s fate a decade after signing One Direction.
- Cowell describes a visit about a year before the death when Payne spoke about fatherhood and seemed in a better place.
- Argentine investigators have charged Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz with supplying drugs; both deny the allegations and no trial date has been set.
- Senior Coroner Crispin Butler is awaiting full reports and eyewitness material from Argentina via the FCDO before a final inquest.